Budapest String quartet ensemble in existence from 1917 to 1967. It was originally formed by three Hungarians and a Dutchman; at the end, the quartet consisted of four Russians.
The Budapest String Quartet was formed in 1917 by four friends, all members of opera orchestras that had ceased playing after World War I broke out. The members were all protégés of Jenő Hubay (violin), a Hungarian pupil of Joseph Joachim and David Popper(cello), a Bohemian. Hubay and Popper had helped to make Budapest a major center for musical education, attracting famous students such as Joseph Szigeti. Hubay and Popper had supported Sándor Végh and Feri Roth in the formation of two other quartets bearing their respective names, and were themselves part of an earlier Budapest Quartet, the new quartet being named in its honor. The debut recital of the new Budapest String Quartet (in Hungarian: Budapesti Vonósnégyes), took place in December 1917 in Kolozsvár, then in Hungary, now called Cluj-Napoca in present-day Romania.
The quartet was established with the following rules:
- All disputes, musical or business, were to be resolved by a vote. In case of a tie, no change.
- Players were not allowed to take engagements outside the quartet.
- Players were paid equally, with nothing extra for the leader (first violin).
- No wives or girlfriends were permitted at rehearsals or discussions.
No previous quartet had attempted to live entirely on the proceeds of its concerts. Much later, in July 1930, the current members added another rule to resolve tied votes: One player, chosen by lot, would have a deciding vote. His initials would be written on the music, and he would always have the extra vote for that piece. If he was replaced, his successor would inherit his voting rights.
The original members were Emil Hauser, aged 24, from Budapest; Alfred Indig, 25, from Hungary; István Ipolyi, 31, from Újvidék in Hungary; and Harry Son from Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.
1st violin: Emil Hauser (1893–1978) (from 1917 to 1932Josef Roisman (Joe) (1900–1974) (from 1932 to 1967)
2nd violin: Alfred Indig (1892–?) (from 1917 to 1920) Imre Pogany (1893–1975) (from 1920 to 1927)Josef Roisman (Joe) (1900–1974) (from 1927 to 1932)Alexander Schneider (Sasha) (1908–1993) (from 1932 to 1944 and from 1955 to 1967) Edgar Ortenberg (1900–1996) (from 1944 to 1949 Jac Gorodetzky (1913–1955) (from 1949 to 1955)
Viola: István Ipolyi (1886–1955) (from 1917 to 1936)
Boris Kroyt (1897–1969) (from 1936 to 1967)
Cello: Harry Son (born Henri Mozes Son) (1880–1942) (from 1917 to 1930)
Mischa Schneider (1904–1985) (from 1930 to 1967)
