# Bond (string quartet) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bond_(string_quartet) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bond_(string_quartet).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_(string_quartet) > Source revision: 1307900958 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Australian/British string quartet}} {{other uses|Bond (disambiguation)}}{{Primary sources|date=May 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bond | image = Bond - Metrocentre 2009.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Bond performing at the Metrocentre, Gateshead in promotion of the Peugeot 308CC | origin = [London](/source/London), United Kingdom | instrument = | genre = {{hlist|[Classical crossover](/source/Crossover_music)|[synth-pop](/source/synth-pop)|[electronica](/source/electronica)}} | years_active = 2000–present | label = {{hlist|[MCA](/source/Universal_Music)|[Decca](/source/Decca_Records)}} | website = [http://www.bondquartet.com/ bondquartet.com] | current_members = * Tania Davis * Eos Counsell * Elspeth Hanson * Gay-Yee Westerhoff | past_members = Haylie Ecker }} '''Bond''' (stylised as '''BOND''';{{cite web | url=http://www.bondquartet.com/biography/ | title=BOND - Biography | access-date=13 November 2013}} formerly often typeset as '''bond''' in deference to [the owners](/source/Danjaq) of the [007](/source/James_Bond) trademark){{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501020318-216347,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717233511/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501020318-216347,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 July 2007 | title=Sex in the Symphony | date=11 March 2002 | access-date=20 December 2007 | magazine=Time}} is an Australian/British [string quartet](/source/string_quartet) that specialises in [classical crossover](/source/classical_crossover) and [synth-pop](/source/synth-pop) music. The quartet has sold five million albums. ==Creation== Bond was formed following initial conversations between [Vanessa-Mae](/source/Vanessa-Mae) composer and record producer [Mike Batt](/source/Mike_Batt) and her manager, promoter [Mel Bush](/source/Mel_Bush_(promoter)), after Batt suggested to Bush that the two of them should put together a quartet consisting of "four beautiful, talented musicians" Auditions were held at Baden Powell House in London, and violinist (Eos) and Cellist (Gay Yee) and a viola player were "cast" at that point, using as an audition piece "Contradanza" that Batt had written for Vanessa Mae. It was agreed between them that all was then required was to find the ideal first violinist.[https://web.archive.org/web/20230421160635/http://batt-vision.com/bond.html Mike Batt's Official Website: Bond – String Quartet]. Accessed 23 March 2009 Some time later, Bush pushed ahead without Batt, recruiting Batt's former engineer Gareth Cousins. This resulted in an initial four recordings the band made, leading to Bond being signed by [Decca](/source/Decca_Records). Three of those original recordings, "Duel", "[The 1812](/source/1812_Overture)" and "Dalalai", were the backbone of the first album, ''[Born](/source/Born_(Bond_album))'', with producer Magnus Fiennes providing additional tracks and Mike Batt adding a re-arrangement and remix of "[Victory](/source/Victory_(Bond_song))", which became the first single. The quartet currently consists of Tania Davis (first violin, formerly viola, from [Sydney](/source/Sydney), [Australia](/source/Australia)), Eos Counsell (second violin, from [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff), Wales), Elspeth Hanson ([viola](/source/viola), from [Upper Basildon](/source/Upper_Basildon), England){{Cite web |url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2034524_fiddling_with_becks_at_the_olympics |title=Fiddling with Becks at the Olympics... |publisher=Get Reading |date=28 August 2008 |access-date=29 May 2009}} and Gay-Yee Westerhoff (cello, from [Hull](/source/Kingston_upon_Hull), England). Hanson replaced original band member Haylie Ecker (formerly first violin and from [Perth](/source/Perth), Australia), who left in 2008 to have a child.{{ cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/5172062/Escala-v-Bond-battle-of-the-girl-quartets.html | title=Escala v Bond: battle of the girl quartets | work=[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph) | date=20 April 2009 | access-date=29 April 2009 | location=London | first=Jasper | last=Rees}} ===Genre and success=== Their début album ''[Born](/source/Born_(Bond_album))'' was removed from the [UK classical chart](/source/UK_classical_chart), apparently owing to its "sounding too much like pop music".{{Cite web |title=BOND – Instrumentals Forever |url=https://instrumentalsforever.eu/artists/bond/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=instrumentalsforever.eu}} ''Born'' later rose to #1 on 21 charts around the world. ''[Shine](/source/Shine_(Bond_album))'', their second album, went gold in six countries. ''Remixed'' featured remixes from their first two albums as well as three new pieces. Their third studio album ''[Classified](/source/Classified_(Bond_album))'' went double platinum in Australia, reaching the number one spot on both the classical and pop charts. ''[Explosive: The Best of Bond](/source/Explosive%3A_The_Best_of_Bond)'' is a "[Best of](/source/Best_of)" that, again, included three unreleased pieces. ==Appearances and recent work== The quartet spent much of 2003 touring, particularly throughout Asia, and participating in the [Miss Universe](/source/Miss_Universe) 2003 held in [Panama City](/source/Panama_City), Panama. They also fitted in performing and filming a TV commercial for American department store chain [Marshall Field's](/source/Marshall_Field's) and made a commercial in Los Angeles for the Japanese karaoke manufacturer [Daiichi Kosho](/source/Daiichi_Kosho). The group made their movie debut playing themselves in a scene in [Rowan Atkinson](/source/Rowan_Atkinson)'s James Bond spoof ''[Johnny English](/source/Johnny_English)'' for which they also contributed the track "Kismet" (composed by Westerhoff) and played on the Main Theme. They also appeared as themselves in the film ''[XXX: State of the Union](/source/XXX%3A_State_of_the_Union)'', performing "Victory". The classical violinist [André Rieu](/source/Andr%C3%A9_Rieu) and the [Johann Strauss Orchestra](/source/Johann_Strauss_Orchestra) performed live on [New Year's Eve](/source/New_Year's_Eve) in [Vienna](/source/Vienna) in a set that includes many [Strauss](/source/Strauss) favorites, as well as an appearance from Bond performing "Victory".{{Cite web |url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/movie/pid/6978752/a/Andre+Rieu+-+New+Year's+In+Vienna.htm |title=Peugeot 308-CC |publisher=cduniverse.com |year=2005 |access-date=12 December 2011}} In 2009, [Peugeot](/source/Peugeot) commissioned Bond to record [Vivaldi](/source/Antonio_Vivaldi)'s "[Four Seasons](/source/The_Four_Seasons_(Vivaldi))" to advertise the [308CC](/source/Peugeot_308).{{Cite web |url=http://www.peugeot.co.uk/vehicles/peugeot-car-range/peugeot-308-cc |title=Peugeot 308-CC |publisher=Peugeot |year=2009 |access-date=30 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517120845/http://www.peugeot.co.uk/vehicles/peugeot-car-range/peugeot-308-cc/ |archive-date=17 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }} All four members of the band helped arrange these tracks. The tracks were available for download from Peugeot's website free of charge,{{Cite web |url=http://communications.peugeot.co.uk/added_pages/form_templates/bond_MP3_download.asp |title=Bond – Vivaldi |publisher=Peugeot |access-date=17 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511002008/http://communications.peugeot.co.uk/added_pages/form_templates/bond_MP3_download.asp |archive-date=11 May 2009 |url-status=dead }} with "Summer" and "Winter" also appearing on Bond's album ''Play''. In a 2009 interview with the ''[Birmingham Mail](/source/Birmingham_Mail)'', Davis revealed that Bond were currently working on their next studio album. She also noted that the next album would have Gypsy, folk, and Eastern European influences.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S6sV3sCBYI | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519124442/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S6sV3sCBYI| archive-date=2014-05-19 | url-status=dead| title=Andy Coleman talks to string quartet Bond |work=Birmingham Mail|date=5 June 2009 | access-date = 13 November 2013}} In late 2010 the band started to perform new material from their new album ''Play'' at concerts in Mexico, including the new single "Diablo",{{Cite web |url=http://www.lavozdedurango.com/noticias/taquilla/bond-derrocha-talento-y-sensualidad-en-concierto |title=Bond derrocha talento y sensualidad en concierto |publisher=lavozdedurango.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713191527/http://www.lavozdedurango.com/noticias/taquilla/bond-derrocha-talento-y-sensualidad-en-concierto |archive-date=13 July 2011 |df=dmy }} which was included on the album. It is characterized by an up-tempo beat, and features Bond's own [Eos Counsell](/source/Eos_Counsell) as vocalist in the song. The string quartet also showcases [Jai Ho](/source/Jai_Ho_(song)), a huge hit from the movie [Slumdog Millionaire](/source/Slumdog_Millionaire). The album also features a few more recognizable hits, such as the song "Pump It", a version of the [Dick Dale](/source/Dick_Dale) and His Del Tones' hit song "[Miserlou](/source/Miserlou)", featured in the opening credits of ''[Pulp Fiction](/source/Pulp_Fiction)''. The song "Last Time" is an interpretation of the song [Bitter Sweet Symphony](/source/Bitter_Sweet_Symphony) by the band [The Verve](/source/The_Verve). Members of Bond have also written their own tracks on the album. Gay-Yee Westerhoff wrote the song "Beatroot", which is strongly Russian influenced (noticeable by a clarinet improvising over the strings). According to the band's webpage, the group recorded a medley of [Lady Gaga](/source/Lady_Gaga) hits at the request of its Japanese label. The Lady Gaga medley was available initially by phone download and was released digitally, soon after, as part of a special Japanese album release. Bond also performed "[I Am the Walrus](/source/I_Am_the_Walrus)" alongside [Russell Brand](/source/Russell_Brand) at the 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony. They returned to the Olympic Stadium in London in July 2013 to perform at The National Lottery Anniversary Run event. A team consisting of the 4 remaining members of Bond, and composer [David Arnold](/source/David_Arnold) (included, according to the BBC, because he has composed music for [James Bond](/source/James_Bond) movies), competed in and won an episode of ''[Celebrity Eggheads](/source/Eggheads_(TV_series))'' first aired on BBC2 on Thursday 1 June 2017, winning a £20,000 prize for charity as a result.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08sxsmn |title=BBC Two - Eggheads, Series 20, Episode 7 |work=BBC |year=2017 |access-date=5 August 2019}} Bond performed the [Australian National Anthem](/source/Australian_National_Anthem) at the Australia versus New Zealand match of the [2013 Rugby Championship](/source/2013_Rugby_Championship) in Sydney, 17 August. Bond performed "Married Life" from ''[Up](/source/Up_(soundtrack))'' alongside the Cinematic Sinfonia at the [Royal Albert Hall](/source/Royal_Albert_Hall) as part of ''[Michael Giacchino](/source/Michael_Giacchino) At 50: A Birthday Gala Celebration'' on 20 October 2017. In October 2024, they played in Hanoi in aid of [Typhoon Yagi](/source/Typhoon_Yagi) survivors.{{cite web|url=https://vietnamnet.vn/en/world-famous-bond-quartet-to-perform-in-vn-proceeds-to-aid-typhoon-yagi-victims-2321010.html|date=11 September 2024|title=World-famous Bond Quartet to perform in VN, proceeds to aid typhoon Yagi victims|website=Vietnamnet|accessdate=26 August 2025}} ==Personnel== thumb|The Bond members in January 2018 ===Current members=== * Tania Davis – [viola](/source/viola) (2000–2008), first [violin](/source/violin) (2008–present) * Eos Counsell (née Chater) – second violin (2000–present) * Elspeth Hanson – viola (2008–present) * Gay-Yee Westerhoff – [cello](/source/cello) (2000–present) ===Former members=== * Haylie Ecker – first violin (2000–2008) ==Discography== ===Studio albums=== *''[Born](/source/Born_(Bond_album))'' (2000) *''[Shine](/source/Shine_(Bond_album))'' (2002) *''[Classified](/source/Classified_(Bond_album))'' (2004) *''[Play](/source/Play_(Bond_album))'' (2011) ===Compilations=== *''Remixed'' (2003) *''[Explosive: The Best of Bond](/source/Explosive%3A_The_Best_of_Bond)'' (2005) ===EPs=== *''The Collection'' (2020) ===Promotional records=== * ''Raymond Weil'' (2001) * ''Fab Field's Mix'' (2003) ===Soundtracks=== * ''[Johnny English](/source/Johnny_English)'' ===Singles=== * "Victory" * "Wintersun" * "Viva!/Wintersun" * "Shine" * "Fuego" * "Speed" * "Atlanta/Time" * "Viva!/Victory" * "Explosive/Adagio for Strings" * "[Fly Robin Fly](/source/Fly_Robin_Fly)" * "I Can't Wait" (2019) * "Panthera" (2019) * "Zadok the Priestess" (2020) * "Come Home" (2020) * "Artemis" (2020) * "Alone" (2020) * "Experience" by [Ludovico Einaudi](/source/Ludovico_Einaudi) (2021) * "Cease and Desist" (2021) * "Rise of the Phoenix" (2022) * "Me and You" (2023) ===DVDs=== * ''Live at the Royal Albert Hall'' * ''Bond: Video Clip Collection'' ==Image gallery== File:Tania Davis - Metrocentre 2009.jpg|Tania Davis in 2009. File:Eos Chater - Metrocentre 2009.jpg|Eos Counsell in 2009. File:Elspeth Hanson - Metrocentre 2009.jpg|Elspeth Hanson in 2009. File:Gay-Yee Westerhoff - Metrocentre 2009.jpg|Gay-Yee Westerhoff in 2009. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Bond (musical group)}} * [http://www.bondquartet.com Official website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050829192834/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/classics/bond/index.htm Official Japanese website] * {{Discogs artist|artist=bond (3)|name=Bond}} {{Bond}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bond}} Category:All-female classical bands Category:Australian all-female bands Category:Australian string quartets Category:British string quartets Category:British synth-pop groups Category:English all-female bands Category:English women in electronic music Category:Musical groups established in 2000 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bond (string quartet)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_(string_quartet)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_(string_quartet)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.