Playing Hub

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Musicians have the best weddings with the best music: online editor Davina Shum

2023-06-01T07:43:00+01:00

The cellist reflects on some of her most memorable musical moments at weddings past, ahead of attending and playing at her friends’ wedding this week

maja and lily

‘Travelling with the cello doesn’t get any easier’: Maja Bogdanović

2023-05-31T07:47:00+01:00

The cellist reflects on the challenge of juggling a busy performance career with travelling not only with a cello, but with a small infant!

Andrew _Ellis_Rakhi Singh Press Live '22 (4)

‘I enjoy finding new sonic palettes’ - violinist Rakhi Singh on performing with electronics

2023-05-31T07:25:00+01:00

The violinist shares her approaches and challenges ahead of upcoming electronic-acoustic sets at Kings Place and Cheltenham Music Festival

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Words of Wisdom: violist Nobuko Imai

2023-05-31T07:23:00+01:00

A positive outlook and courage are essential for a lasting career in music, as the violist shared in our March 2013 issue

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The dark side of being an adult violin beginner: Rachael Ridge

2023-05-30T10:14:00+01:00

Adult beginners face judgement, pressures and constraints not often associated with younger students, and teachers must aim to be inclusive of late-starters, writes the violinist

adolf busch

Great string players of the past: Violinist Adolf Busch

2023-05-26T09:08:00+01:00

As a young man, Martin Lovett was impressed by the ease with which Adolf Busch performed

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Premium ❘ Feature

Ligeti Centenary: how the composer influenced string quartet writing in the 20th century

2023-06-02T07:00:00+01:00

Long-time fan Peter Quantrill talks to leading interpreters of György Ligeti’s remarkable string quartets, and their plans for centenary tributes

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Premium ❘ Feature

In Focus: An 1819 David Stirrat violin

2023-05-30T09:30:00+01:00

David Rattray examines an instrument by the Edinburgh maker

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Premium ❘ Focus

Opinion: The pros and cons of backing tracks

2023-05-17T08:32:08.24+01:00

Naomi Yandell argues that while backing tracks are a useful learning tool, they create an experience gap that needs bridging

James Tubbs

Premium ❘ Focus

Bow maker James Tubbs - From the archive: June 1913

2023-05-17T08:32:00+01:00

Towry Piper gives an account of the life and work of London bow maker James Tubbs (below), still going strong at the age of 78

Competitions

Dior Quartet

Winners of 2023 Victor Elmaleh Competition announced

2023-05-25T10:28:00+01:00

Two quartets, a violinist, double bassist and violin-guitar duo have taken the top prizes

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Winners announced at Osaka International Chamber Music Competition

2023-05-19T11:26:00+01:00

Italy’s Quartetto Indaco won the string quartet category, while Germany’s Capybara Piano Quartet was victorious in the piano trio/quartet section

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Poiesis Quartet wins 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition

2023-05-17T13:10:00+01:00

The quartet has received $21,500 and multiple performance opportunities

12 Ensemble_Mattias Björklund

Premium ❘ News

‘Like Frankenstein’s monster being jolted to life’ - Premiere of the Month: Living dead

2023-05-18T08:30:00+01:00

Laurence Osborn’s new work TOMB! will be premiered by12 Ensemble and GBSR Duo

[1] Kleio pc Matthew Johnson

Premium ❘ News

Competitions, Awards and Appointments: June 2023

2023-05-17T08:29:55.55+01:00

This month’s competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

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The Strad Podcast #83: making the transition from student to fine instruments with Peter Herresthal

2023-05-18T08:30:00+01:00

The violinist gives his advice and tips to players wanting to upgrade their instrument

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The Strad Podcast #82: Violinist Tessa Lark on The Stradgrass Sessions

2023-05-04T09:18:00+01:00

Tessa speaks about how social gatherings and collaborations are integral constituents of folk music

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The Strad Podcast #81: TwoSet Violin’s Brett Yang on the ‘Empress Caterina’ Stradivari

2023-04-20T08:50:00+01:00

What did Brett learn from playing this fine instrument? Find out in our exclusive chat!

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The Strad Podcast #80: Malin Broman on multi-instrumentalism

2023-03-30T09:05:00+01:00

Malin shares how her violin skills transfer to viola and cello, and vice versa

Competitons

Dior Quartet

Winners of 2023 Victor Elmaleh Competition announced

2023-05-25T10:28:00+01:00

Two quartets, a violinist, double bassist and violin-guitar duo have taken the top prizes

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Winners announced at Osaka International Chamber Music Competition

2023-05-19T11:26:00+01:00

Italy’s Quartetto Indaco won the string quartet category, while Germany’s Capybara Piano Quartet was victorious in the piano trio/quartet section

Reposta_310598544_459725496140291_3379237810526648065_njpg

Poiesis Quartet wins 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition

2023-05-17T13:10:00+01:00

The quartet has received $21,500 and multiple performance opportunities

More from Lutherie

Small wonders 10

Small wonders: Building bridges

2023-06-01T08:47:00+01:00

John Dilworth pontificates on bridges in this article from September 2013

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In Focus: An 1819 David Stirrat violin

2023-05-30T09:30:00+01:00

David Rattray examines an instrument by the Edinburgh maker

Small wonders 9

Small wonders: The soundpost

2023-05-25T09:18:00+01:00

For John Dilworth, an instrument’s heart and soul lie in one tiny piece of spruce

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Auction Report June 2023: The Rosenberg Collection

2023-05-24T08:30:00+01:00

The collection of London-based dealer Norman Rosenberg provided a boost in interest and activity at London’s spring sales, as Kevin MacDonald reports

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In Focus: A 1660 Jacob Stainer viola

2023-05-23T07:33:00+01:00

Bradley Strauchen-Scherer takes a closer look at a viola from one of the most important makers of the violin family

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Trade Secrets: Repairing a broken bow head

2023-05-19T08:33:00+01:00

A less invasive and more reversible version of a well-known repair method

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Concert review: Nobuko Imai (viola) Martijn Willers (piano) et al

2023-05-31T07:00:00+01:00By

Carlos María Solare attends the birthday performance at the Royal Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, on 19 March 2023

danish

Concert review: Danish Quartet & Friends: Series of Four

2023-05-30T09:29:00+01:00By

Andrew Mellor reports on a performance from the ‘Series of Four’ concerts, taking place at Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Academy of Music on 19 March 2023

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Concert review: Isidore Quartet

2023-05-26T08:29:00+01:00By Leah Hollingsworth

Leah Hollingsworth reports from the performance by the Banff Competition winners at The New School, New York, on 19 March 2023

Water Music

Sequoia: Water Music: Source to Sea

2023-06-02T07:15:00+01:00By David Kettle

The beauty of the natural world finds a potent voice

Electric

Matthew Barley: Electric

2023-06-01T08:25:00+01:00By David Kettle

A fearless adventurer plugs into 40 years of electronics

Mozart Ebene Qt

Ébène Quartet, Antoine Tamestit: Mozart

2023-05-23T08:26:00+01:00By

Music-making of exquisite detail creates a powerful emotional impact

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Book review: The Cello Still Sings: A Generational Story of the Holocaust and of the Transformative Power of Music

2023-05-17T08:27:18.127+01:00By Janet Banks

Janet Banks reviews Janet Horvath’s moving biographical tale of her family, the Holocaust and what happened next

notebook

Book review: A Notebook for Viola Players

2023-05-17T08:27:13.25+01:00By

Carlos Maria Solare reviews a new edition of Ivo-Jan van der Werff’s classic handbook of tips and hints for violists

Cool Beans

Book review: Cool Beans

2023-05-17T08:27:00+01:00By Davina Shum

Davina Shum reviews the latest collection of duets for string players from Celia Cobb and Naomi Yandell

Debate

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Opinion: The pros and cons of backing tracks

2023-05-17T08:32:08.24+01:00

Naomi Yandell argues that while backing tracks are a useful learning tool, they create an experience gap that needs bridging

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Opinion: A case for depping

2023-05-11T10:20:00+01:00

The art of deputising may be one of the scariest things a musician can do, but it’s a skill that can benefit all players, says cellist Davina Shum

Debate

GettyImages-1440794365

Opinion: The pros and cons of backing tracks

2023-05-17T08:32:08.24+01:00

Naomi Yandell argues that while backing tracks are a useful learning tool, they create an experience gap that needs bridging

GettyImages-1345888780

Opinion: A case for depping

2023-05-11T10:20:00+01:00

The art of deputising may be one of the scariest things a musician can do, but it’s a skill that can benefit all players, says cellist Davina Shum

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  • The_Strad_directories_2023

  • The Strad Directory is the essential resource for the string music world, with over 2,300 listings providing information on string businesses across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

    Whether you are a string player searching for a new instrument or a business owner looking to reach your target audience, the Strad Directory remains the most comprehensive and user-friendly resource for the string music world.