FOR those in the North-East, ‘Doric’ is a local form of Scots; classicists recognise it as an elegant embellishment to Greek columns whilst to musicians it refers to one of the best youthful string quartets in the world.

On Thursday, February 13, from 7.30pm, the Doric String Quartet will perform in Melrose Parish Church Hall for the Melrose Music Society.

Alex Redington (violin), Jonathan Stone (violin) Simon Tandree (viola) and John Myerscough (cello) are appropriately starting with Haydn’s Quartet in B flat major, Opus 76, no. 4, nicknamed the ‘Sunrise’ quartet because of the opening motif. Their playing of Haydn in their recording debut was praised in the Editor’s Choice of Gramophone by the phrase ‘sparkles with wit’.

This will be followed by Erich Korngold’s Quartet opus 26 no. 2. The American late Romantic style composer was lauded by Mahler as a ‘musical genius’, and the Doric Quartet’s interpretation of his work has been described as ‘inspirational in every way’.

The recital will end with ‘one of the greatest compositions of all time’: Beethoven’s Quartet in E flat major, Opus 127, the first of the six late quartets in which, according to the musicologist, Homer Ulrich, ‘…great strength becomes inexorable force, charm becomes austere beauty and extreme joy becomes divine abandon.’ The Doric String Quartet have won prizes in Japan, Italy and Germany for their playing, have a close relationship with London’s Wigmore Hall and perform annually in America. Concert tours have taken them all over Europe as well Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Israel, but this month they come to the Scottish Borders. Tickets at the door for non-members are priced £12. Accompanied children go free.