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The pernambuco wood dilemma: a call for global responsibility and unity
‘Making music makes your soul grow!’: exploring the legacy of the Colourstrings method
Eastman School of Music appoints new violin professor
My experience: violist Ariel Postmus, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Perth
Sphinx Organization announces its MPower Artist Grants for 2024
Ten Sphinx alumni, including three violinists, a violist, two cellists and a bassist, will receive grants to go towards achieving their career objectives
The Strad May 2024 issue is out now!
21-year-old violinist María Dueñas speaks about her rapid rise to fame, finding her musical identity and her latest projects
The Maccaferri-style violin inspired by Django Reinhardt
Luthier Neil Campbell shares how he crafted a violin in the style of the iconic instrument played by the legendary guitarist
Playing Hub
Geminiani’s scales: a portal to the past
Geminiani’s scale exercises in his seminal 1751 treatise The Art of Playing on the Violin may look puzzlingly random to modern eyes, but violinist Benjamin Shute argues that they can reveal useful insights into the thinking behind performance practice of the time
‘The lama was a clever performer’ - From the archive: May 1894
T. L. Phipson recounts an impromptu recital by a lama in a remote Mongolian village, on an instrument that, from its description, may have been a morin khuur
‘Dream big and give yourself time to try things out’ - violinist Tim Kliphuis’s life lessons
The Dutch violinist recalls his journey to discovering his own distinct style and sound
Postcard from Detroit: Sphinx Competition and SphinxConnect convention
At the Sphinx Competition and SphinxConnect convention, Rita Fernandes experienced an array of inspiring events that went beyond simply addressing diversity in classical music
Sentimental Work: Christian Poltéra on Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello
The challenges of Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello led to a memorable encounter between the Swiss cellist and his childhood hero, Mstislav Rostropovich
From the archive: Neville Marriner on his musical education
The violinist, chamber music player and conductor was born on this day in 1924. In this excerpt from a 1986 interview, Neville Marriner speaks to Dennis Rooney about his first encounters with violin playing and his early teachers
Premium ❘ Feature
Making her mark: violinist María Dueñas
Although she’s only 21, the Spanish violinist María Dueñas is already a rapidly rising star in the musical world. Tom Stewart speaks to the young virtuoso about how she has created her own unique and distinctive voice on the instrument
Premium ❘ Feature
Creation and evolution: Manchester Collective
Manchester Collective is an ensemble that doesn’t shy away from either transporting its listeners to unexpected places, or embracing change within its own identity. Members including co‑founder and violinist Rakhi Singh talk to David Kettle about the group’s unique philosophy
Premium ❘ Feature
Making her mark: violinist María Dueñas
Although she’s only 21, the Spanish violinist María Dueñas is already a rapidly rising star in the musical world. Tom Stewart speaks to the young virtuoso about how she has created her own unique and distinctive voice on the instrument
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Detroit: Sphinx Competition and SphinxConnect convention
At the Sphinx Competition and SphinxConnect convention, Rita Fernandes experienced an array of inspiring events that went beyond simply addressing diversity in classical music
Premium ❘ Focus
Sentimental Work: Christian Poltéra on Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello
The challenges of Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello led to a memorable encounter between the Swiss cellist and his childhood hero, Mstislav Rostropovich
Competitions
Violin winners of the Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition announced
Violinist Kim Byeol Claire won the senior category, receiving $2,000
Semi-finalists announced for the 2025 Antonio Mormone International Prize
In a unique semi-final round where the jurors follow competitors over ten months, ten violinists will have the opportunity to compete for a first-prize package, which includes €30,000, a recording contract, concert engagements and artist management
Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition announces 2024 winners
Winner of the senior division, violinist Ilva Eigus, receives €3,000 and a violin bow
![[3] Soyoung Yoon pc Julia Wesel](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/460x307/7/7/0/33770_3soyoungyoonpcjuliawesel_221630.jpg)
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: May 2024
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Britta Byström’s new violin concerto for Janine Jansen
Day and night inspire a new violin concerto
Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata no.8, first movement
Violinist Viktoria Mullova describes how knowledge of historical style, a sense of spontaneity and precise metronome work are crucial for pulling off this cheeky movement
Masterclass: Beethoven Cello Sonata no.5, second and third movements
Cellist Gary Hoffman considers the importance of context to understand and appreciate this work, written in 1815 during a period of isolation and difficulty for the composer
Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata no.8, first movement
Violinist Viktoria Mullova describes how knowledge of historical style, a sense of spontaneity and precise metronome work are crucial for pulling off this cheeky movement
Masterclass: Beethoven Cello Sonata no.5, second and third movements
Cellist Gary Hoffman considers the importance of context to understand and appreciate this work, written in 1815 during a period of isolation and difficulty for the composer
Masterclass: Ravel Violin Sonata no.2, second movement ‘Blues’
Violinist Curtis Stewart looks at how to get the most from the different styles Ravel used, and how questions that arise from their juxtaposition are arguably more important than answers
The Strad Podcast #115: designing your own musical education as an adult learner with violinist Julia Reddy
How can adult students gain musical enrichment beyond the practice room? The violinist, teacher and podcaster shares her strategies
The Strad Podcast Episode #57: Augustin Hadelich on Recuerdos and Ricochet
Enjoy some ’R&R’: the violinist speaks about his new album, as well as a particularly tricky bowing technique
The Strad Podcast #114: exploring resources and finding your teaching style with cellist Guy Johnston
The cellist speaks about how resources left by renowned ‘cello gods,’ as well as fostering a community of sharing has informed his teaching methods throughout his career
The Strad Podcast #113: Uncovering Ysaÿe’s lost works with violinist Philippe Graffin
The violinist speaks about his efforts to bring Ysaÿe’s Poème concertant into the limelight
The Strad Podcast #115: designing your own musical education as an adult learner with violinist Julia Reddy
How can adult students gain musical enrichment beyond the practice room? The violinist, teacher and podcaster shares her strategies
The Strad Podcast Episode #57: Augustin Hadelich on Recuerdos and Ricochet
Enjoy some ’R&R’: the violinist speaks about his new album, as well as a particularly tricky bowing technique
The Strad Podcast #114: exploring resources and finding your teaching style with cellist Guy Johnston
The cellist speaks about how resources left by renowned ‘cello gods,’ as well as fostering a community of sharing has informed his teaching methods throughout his career
Competitons
Violin winners of the Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition announced
Violinist Kim Byeol Claire won the senior category, receiving $2,000
Semi-finalists announced for the 2025 Antonio Mormone International Prize
In a unique semi-final round where the jurors follow competitors over ten months, ten violinists will have the opportunity to compete for a first-prize package, which includes €30,000, a recording contract, concert engagements and artist management
Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition announces 2024 winners
Winner of the senior division, violinist Ilva Eigus, receives €3,000 and a violin bow
New video: Wagner’s ‘Träume’ for viola and piano
Take an exclusive first-look at this performance from violist Daniel Orsen and pianist Pierre-Nicolas Colombat, ahead of their album release named Wagner’s Nightmare on 19 April
New video: Wagner’s ‘Träume’ for viola and piano
Piazzolla’s musical style by violinist Tomás Cotik
Video premiere: The Spektral Quartet presents ‘Thus, the Night’
Piazzolla’s immigrant story by violinist Tomás Cotik
Kavakos, Ma and Ax: a legendary trio performs Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
Stradivarius and Beyond: The Italian Violin Maker Giovanni Grancino
The Danish Quartet performs ‘Danny Boy’
Video: Ysaÿe’s Secret Concerto by violinist Philippe Graffin
Ragazze Quartet performs ‘Juba’ by Florence Price
Violist Ayane Kozasa performs ‘Unspoken’ by Daniel Temkin
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The pernambuco wood dilemma: a call for global responsibility and unity
Connecting cultural heritage and environmental sustainability, David Neves discusses a proposal to include pernambuco in Appendix I of CITES, a change that would significantly impact the global trade of this essential wood
The Maccaferri-style violin inspired by Django Reinhardt
Luthier Neil Campbell shares how he crafted a violin in the style of the iconic instrument played by the legendary guitarist
A mystery unveiled: the makers of Ferrara
While scholars have scrutinised the making traditions of various Italian cities, the luthiers of Ferrara have been largely neglected – until now. Florian Leonhard presents the results of recent archival research into Alessandro Mezzadri and the Marconcini family, along with notes on their making styles
Decorating a bow frog: let the flowers bloom
A very specialist part of the bow maker’s craft is the addition of decorative inlay into a bow frog. Vladimiros Sorokin-Andreou presents his method for this intricate and delicate part of the process
In Focus: c.1810–20 bow by Christian Wilhelm Knopf
Matthieu Besseling on a bow by the Knopf dynasty’s patriarch
Trade Secrets: An alternative rib construction method
Luthier Alan Beavitt shares an option that can guarantee an accurate overhang at the end of the process
The pernambuco wood dilemma: a call for global responsibility and unity
Connecting cultural heritage and environmental sustainability, David Neves discusses a proposal to include pernambuco in Appendix I of CITES, a change that would significantly impact the global trade of this essential wood
The Maccaferri-style violin inspired by Django Reinhardt
Luthier Neil Campbell shares how he crafted a violin in the style of the iconic instrument played by the legendary guitarist
A mystery unveiled: the makers of Ferrara
While scholars have scrutinised the making traditions of various Italian cities, the luthiers of Ferrara have been largely neglected – until now. Florian Leonhard presents the results of recent archival research into Alessandro Mezzadri and the Marconcini family, along with notes on their making styles
Decorating a bow frog: let the flowers bloom
A very specialist part of the bow maker’s craft is the addition of decorative inlay into a bow frog. Vladimiros Sorokin-Andreou presents his method for this intricate and delicate part of the process
In Focus: c.1810–20 bow by Christian Wilhelm Knopf
Matthieu Besseling on a bow by the Knopf dynasty’s patriarch
Trade Secrets: An alternative rib construction method
Luthier Alan Beavitt shares an option that can guarantee an accurate overhang at the end of the process
Concert review: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Jessie Montgomery, Lera Auerbach, Chris Rogerson and Kaija Saariaho at the Rose Studio, New York, on 18 January 2024
Concert review: Apollon Musagète Quartet
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Schubert, Dvořák and Shostakovich at the Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York on 7 February 2024
Concert review: Jan Vogler (cello) Amanda Gorman (poet)
Leah Hollingsworth hears the innovative performance of Bach at the Isaac Stern Auditorium in New York’s Carnegie Hall on 17 February 2024
The Strad Recommends: Trio Zimbalist: Auerbach, Dvořák, Weinberg
Performances to sit alongside the finest in this enterprising programme
Sinfonia of London: Bacewicz, Enescu, Ysaÿe
A typically classy offering from this crack ensemble
Mathis Rochat, Stephen Waarts: C.P.E. Bach, Graun
Sympathetic reworkings for the viola prove most persuasive
Book review: Bows, Strings and Dreams
Lauren Wesley-Smith reviews the autobiography of 16-year-old violin wunderkind Leia Zhu
Book review: Italian Violin Making in Argentina
Bharat Khandekar reviews Pablo A. Saraví’s publication on the little-known culture of lutherie among the immigrant population of South America’s second-largest country
Book review: Bach Six Suites for Violoncello solo (BWV1007–12) arranged for viola solo
Misha Galaganov reviews Bärenreiter’s new edition of the Bach Suites edited for performance by violists
Debate
Opinion: why don’t string players practice pizzicato?
Perfecting bowing is a lifelong quest for string players – but what about pizzicato? Cellist Davina Shum advocates setting aside some dedicated practice time to this neglected technique
Opinion: The benefits and challenges of playing at the back of the section
While the musicians at the front of an orchestral string section might be in the spotlight, every string player should experience the unique challenges of sitting towards the back, says violinist Alexandra Gorski
Debate
Opinion: why don’t string players practice pizzicato?
Perfecting bowing is a lifelong quest for string players – but what about pizzicato? Cellist Davina Shum advocates setting aside some dedicated practice time to this neglected technique
Opinion: The benefits and challenges of playing at the back of the section
While the musicians at the front of an orchestral string section might be in the spotlight, every string player should experience the unique challenges of sitting towards the back, says violinist Alexandra Gorski
Accessories
Products May 2024: Schilbach UV tanning lamp
A lamp for luthiers to tan violins and cure varnish
Products May 2024: Dörfler bow winding machine
A new product from the German bow making workshop
Products May 2024: Thomastik Rondo Gold violin strings
A new set in the Rondo range
Concert review: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Jessie Montgomery, Lera Auerbach, Chris Rogerson and Kaija Saariaho at the Rose Studio, New York, on 18 January 2024
Concert review: Apollon Musagète Quartet
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Schubert, Dvořák and Shostakovich at the Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York on 7 February 2024
Concert review: Jan Vogler (cello) Amanda Gorman (poet)
Leah Hollingsworth hears the innovative performance of Bach at the Isaac Stern Auditorium in New York’s Carnegie Hall on 17 February 2024
Book review: Bows, Strings and Dreams
Lauren Wesley-Smith reviews the autobiography of 16-year-old violin wunderkind Leia Zhu
Book review: Italian Violin Making in Argentina
Bharat Khandekar reviews Pablo A. Saraví’s publication on the little-known culture of lutherie among the immigrant population of South America’s second-largest country
Book review: Bach Six Suites for Violoncello solo (BWV1007–12) arranged for viola solo
Misha Galaganov reviews Bärenreiter’s new edition of the Bach Suites edited for performance by violists
The Strad Recommends: Trio Zimbalist: Auerbach, Dvořák, Weinberg
Performances to sit alongside the finest in this enterprising programme
Sinfonia of London: Bacewicz, Enescu, Ysaÿe
A typically classy offering from this crack ensemble
Mathis Rochat, Stephen Waarts: C.P.E. Bach, Graun
Sympathetic reworkings for the viola prove most persuasive
Artists
Sentimental Work: Elena Urioste on Mel Bonis’s Violin Sonata
The Violin Sonata by French composer Mel Bonis was a revelation for the US-born violinist, revealing both a new sound world and innovative techniques in music writing
The Strad Podcast Episode #57: Augustin Hadelich on Recuerdos and Ricochet
Enjoy some ’R&R’: the violinist speaks about his new album, as well as a particularly tricky bowing technique
Practice Diary: The Escher Quartet
Second violinist Aaron Boyd discusses a rehearsal of Mendelssohn’s String Quartet no.4
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