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Sep 2009, Naxos Recording of Harris & Sheldon String Quartet
The Enso String Quartet have recently recorded the complete string quartets
by Alberto Ginastera for the Naxos label.
The recording was performed on their Harris & Sheldon instruments.
Read this review of the CD:
'the performances by the Enso quartet are quite staggeringly brilliant. I don't think I have been
so thrilled by the sound of a string quartet in a long time. I find it hard to believe that these
magnificent pieces could be performed better than they are here by the Enso quartet. Seek out this
group they are clearly bound for greatness. A particular quality of the ensemble that struck me as
I listened was their tonal unanimity, so how interesting to read that they play on a set of matched
modern instruments made by London-based makers Harris and Sheldon: clearly magnificent instruments
played to within an inch of their lives by superb musicians. If I could give this disc a standing
ovation of one, in my front room after listening to it, I would.'
Jan 2009, Varnish Paper published
The Violin Society of America have published a paper
written by Nigel Harris, Roger Sheldon and James Johnston, entitled
'A Recreation of the Particulate Ground Varnish Layer Used on Many Violins Made before 1750'
The paper may be found and downloaded from our research page.
Oct 2006, The Enso String Quartet
The New York based Enso String Quartet received their set of new instruments made by Harris & Sheldon.
The instruments were commissioned and are owned by Christopher Marshall, who has bought several
fine old instruments for loan to distinguished players.
Nigel went to the USA to deliver the instruments and do the final set up.
Four days and a broadcast recital later, the quartet went off on tour with their new instruments.
Reviews of the quartet sound have been very favourable. Christopher's confidence in fine
contemporary instruments has been justified.
For more about this interesting story, read:
'Good Vibrations' by Sally Blundell.
(New Zealand Listener).
The website for The Enso String Quartet is also well worth a visit.
May 2004, Nigel presents a paper at Newark.
'Lutherie 2004' at Newark. Nigel was invited to give a lecture on his paper, 'On graduating the thickness
of violin plates to achieve tonal repeatability'. The paper has been published in the Violin Society of America
journal called 'VSA Papers', and the BVMA newsletter.'
To read this article, please refer to our 'research' page.
Autumn 2003, Nigel is awarded PhD.
Nigel was awarded with a PhD in violin acoustics at The Institute of Sound & Vibration Research,
a department of the Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science at Southampton University.
His thesis was titled, 'On the role of longitudinal string vibrations in the generation of violin sound.'
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