In the opinion of William Waterhouse (writing in 1995), "it was the remarkable rapport between this pair of lower strings" (i.e. Terence Weil and Cecil Aronowitz) "which remained constant throughout a succession of distinguished leaders, that gave a special distinction to this outstanding ensemble.", Obituary Gervase de Peyer"the Guardian"  A remarkable premiere for the group was Jacques-Louis Monod's 1962 presentation of Roberto Gerhard's "Concerto for Eight". This was followed by the 1962 premiere, and subsequent 1963 recording, of Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem", for which the instrumental sections accompanying the English texts had been written specifically for the Melos, and were directed by the composer in the performance. The recording received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998. In 1964 and 1965 the Melos Ensemble played several concerts at the new "Wardour Castle Summer School", founded by Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies and Alexander Goehr. On 16 August 1964 they played among others "Monody for Corpus Christi" by Birtwistle, "Five Little Pieces" (first performance) by Davies, and "Suite" Op.11 by Goehr. A chamber concert on 17 August featured the  Horn Trio by Brahms, on 18 August the "Quatuor pour la fin du temps" by Messiaen. In 1965, the Melos Ensemble played on 16 August "Pierrot Lunaire" by Schoenberg. On 18 August parts of "In Chymick Art", a cantata on texts by Edward Benlowes that Robin Holloway wrote for the Summer School, were performed for the first time. On 20 August they premiered two works they had commissioned, "Tragoedia" by Birtwistle, conducted by Lawrence Foster, and two 'In Nomine" of "Seven in Nomine" by Davies, conducted by the composer. The Melos Ensemble performed regularly at British and International Festivals, among others Warsaw, Venice, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Bordeaux and the Aldeburgh Festival, their first US tour was in 1966. The group gave many BBC broadcasts, and made over 50 recordings, first with the publisher L'Oiseau-Lyre. Gervase de Peyer directed the extensive recording programme of the Ensemble for EMI. EMI reissued in 2011 a selection from historical recordings, titled "Melos Ensemble – Music among Friends".