David Angel
Violinist who was one founder of the Maggini Quartet, specialising in works by British composers
DAVID ANGEL, the violinist who has died aged 62, was co-founder of the Maggini Quartet and a popular member of the London Mozart Players; his solo account of Bach’s Chaconne in D minor while accompanying London Contemporary Dance Theatre in 1984 was described by one critic as “played with sinewy skill”.
The Maggini Quartet – whose other current members are Julian Leaper (violin), Martin Outram (viola) and Michal Kaznowski (cello) – was formed in 1988 and derives its name from Giovanni Paolo Maggini, the 16th century violin maker. Angel’s own instrument was a composite made by Maggini and Gasparo da Salo from about 1600. Unusually, the quartet’s music stands are illuminated by a remarkable four-arm standard lamp.
They made their name with British music, most notably the 10 “Naxos Quartets” by Peter Maxwell Davies, of which they premiered the first at the Wigmore Hall in 2002. Along the way they uncovered rarities by Ronald Corp, Edmund Rubbra and Gordon Jacob, as well as better-known British repertoire by composers such as Benjamin Britten, Lennox Berkeley and Malcolm Arnold. Their recording of Vaughan Williams’s Phantasy Quintet in 2001, with Garfield Jackson on viola, won a Gramophone Award, with the magazine declaring: “They are past praise in their rapt dedication, searching intelligence and judicious tonal blend.”
On another occasion Angel, who was known among musicians for his gentle enthusiasm and generous manner, told of how the quartets of EJ Moeran, the early 20th century Anglo-irish composer, were a particular revelation. “His music soars without any hint of self-consciousness and is an absolute delight to perform,” he said.
David Edwin Angel was born in Harlow, Essex, on July 20 1954 and soon followed in the footsteps of his two violin-playing elder brothers. “At the end of their lessons the violin teacher would stick me on his knees and put the violin under my chin and play,” he said. “This meant nothing until one time: I must have been about four, I put my finger down and I realised it made a note … For some reason I knew it was the violin that I wanted to do, even if I started on the piano before it.”
He was an early pupil at the Menuhin School, where he studied with Yehudi Menuhin, Frederick Grinke and Nadia Boulanger. In 1971 he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, continuing his studies with Grinke and receiving chamber music coaching from Sidney Griller, of the Griller Quartet.
Soon he was a fixture on the London musical scene, giving recitals with pianists such as Deborah Shaw and David Elwin, and working with chamber groups such as Capricorn and the Prometheus Ensemble. As leader of the London Mozart Players’ second violins he brought an air of calm authority that was valued by conductors. For a time he was a member of the Bochmann Quartet, but in 1988 was one of three members who left to form the Maggini Quartet.
Angel was passionate about education, regularly working in schools and helping to run an annual course for the Chamber Music Society of Norway. In 1995 the Maggini Quartet became artists in association at Brunel University – though not always in a musical capacity. “We would act as subjects for the artists to draw,” he explained. “We’ve also had a 10-week course every year and taught music to some of the people.”
Angel, who enjoyed watching boxing, died of a suspected heart attack while helping to direct a chamber music course in Oxford. He is survived by his wife, Man Ying, and by their two sons.