THE AEOLIAN STRING QUARTET - AUTOGRAPH 03/26/1966 CO-SIGNED BY: UTYA PIATIGONSKAYA, MICHAEL SAXTON, DEREK SIMPSON, SYDNEY E. HUMPHREYS, MARGARET MAJOR, RAYMOND KEENLYSIDE - HFSID 112329

THE AEOLIAN STRING QUARTET: SYDNEY HUMPHREYS, RAYMOND KEENLYSIDE, MARGARET MAJOR, and DEREK SIMPSON
The world-renowned Aeolian String Quartet signed this page while they were under the direction of a Canadian violinist and music teacher
Signatures: "Sydney Humphreys", "Raymond Keenlyside", "Margaret Major", and "Derek Simpson", all in red ink, under the handwritten title "Aeolian String Quartet". 6x4. The Aeolian String Quartet was a renowned string quartet from the United Kingdom that travelled around the world annually, recording and broadcasting numerous concerts from many different locations. The final iteration of the Aeolian Quarter disbanded in 1981. Sydney Humphreys (1926-2015) was actually a native of British Columbia, but was the lead violinist and leader of the group from 1952-1970; the Aeolian Quartet achieved fame in the 1950s under Humphreys' direction. Raymond Keenlyside performed as second violinist until the late 1960s;his son Simon Keenlyside (b.1959) has become a talented opera singer with a baritone voice that has been heard on stage around the world. Derek Simpson (1928-2007) first began playing cello with the Quartet in 1956, after the group had already achieved some fame.He eventually married fellow member of the Quartet Margaret Major (viola). The Aeolian Quartet flew around the world about seven weeks every year, and actually bought five tickets: one for each performer and one for Derek Simpson's cello, a particularly valuable instrument because it was one of the last cellos in existence made by Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737). Two signers on verso merit further research. Lightly toned around edges. Right edge worn. Otherwise, fine condition.