<\/p>
What\u2019s in a name? Shakespeare<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s question throws up all sorts of interesting answers when it comes to classical music ensembles. In many instances, it\u2019s all pretty self-explanatory \u2013 the London Symphony Orchestra, for instance, or the Danish String Quartet. Others, such as the Hall\u00e9<\/a><\/strong> or Britten<\/a><\/strong> Sinfonia, name themselves after their founder or another celebrated musical figure. <\/p> And then there are those \u2013 usually at either the early or contemporary ends of the musical spectrum, for some reason \u2013 whose titles are altogether more obscure in origin. Some have a historical explanation, others are more randomly chosen. All catch the eye. Here are 15 of our favourites\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p> When Amelia Freedman, a student at the Royal Academy of Music, founded the Nash Ensemble in 1964, one can imagine concert-goers scratching their heads as to which famous musical figure the new group got its name from. Heddle Nash, the great English tenor? Unlikely, given this was a collective of instrumental players. In fact, the answer lay outside the world of music \u2013 Freedman took her inspiration from Buckingham Palace and Brighton Pavilion architect John Nash, whose magnificent terraces she used to walk past on her way to the Academy every morning.<\/p> And then, in 1992, came Ensemble Bash. Ho ho. See what they did there? To be fair, the brand does exactly what it says on the tin \u2013 Britain\u2019s Ensemble Bash is a four-person percussion<\/a><\/strong> outfit who have made their names commissioning and performing works from right across the world, often in the company of musicians such as pianist Joanna MacGregor and the Hilliard Ensemble. African music<\/a><\/strong> has become a speciality, and the players have spent extensive periods studying in Ghana.<\/p>Unusual ensemble names<\/h2>
1 The Nash Ensemble<\/strong><\/h3>
2 Ensemble Bash<\/strong><\/h3>