During the concert on September 25th, 2011 the audience was invited to participate in a survey.
The question was "What would your preference be as regards performing repeats?"
The first quartet performed - Mozart - included all repeats in the menuetto and trio movement, but no repeats in the other three movements. The second quartet performed - Grieg - included all repeats.
There were two checkboxes and a space for comments. Responses were as follows:
"I would prefer not too many repeats" - 3 votes
"I would prefer all repeats" - 4 votes
Comments:
The result:
As well as the survey sheets submitted, we received various verbal comments, expressing a similar range of opinion.
Thankyou to everybody who participated in the survey! We will continue to argue each case on its merits, with perhaps a bias towards including most repeats, especially the first repeat in sonata form first movements.
"I fall asleep if the piece is too long."
"My daughter once said to me, 'If it's not different, why repeat?'."
"I like the repeats - helps develop the music. Time is ok, worth it."
"I love the repeats."
"Just keep doing what you're doing. It's wonderful!"
"Musicians -- decision! Duke it out!"
"I prefer judicious use of repeats, not too long, not too few. Ours is an impatient age with more stuff to do each day. Mozart - the first movement did seem somewhat abbreviated."
"Keep on arguing - you don't need us to tell you what you do so well!"
"The menuetto & trio repeats were fine since I liked that movement quite a lot, especially hearing Sara's expertise exercised!"
"2nd piece was fantastic!"