All Premium ❘ Feature articles
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Premium ❘ FeatureFrom the Archive: April 1920
Towry Piper (1859–1925) recalls some of the more unusual habits of violinists, observed during his many years of writing for The Strad
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Technique: Training Musicality
Exercises and advice to help build musical awareness and understanding
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Masterclass: Augustin Hadelich on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto first movement - part 2
The German–American violinist considers ensemble, character and line in the first movement of this great Classical work, in the second of two articles
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Making Matters: A Major Sticking Point
Instead of discussing the right way to secure a crack with reinforcements, shouldn’t we try to achieve the strongest possible joint in the first place? Christian Schabbon presents the results of his investigation into different types of glue
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In Focus: An 1804 Viola by Joseph Fischer
Roland Baumgartner examines an instrument by the German maker
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Anne-Sophie Mutter: The Big Picture
For Anne-Sophie Mutter, Beethoven’s 250th anniversary is the perfect time for a season of concerts dedicated to his works. The project follows her recent recording collaboration with film composer John Williams – yet as different as the two ventures sound, there is far more that unites than divides them, as ...
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Lutherie in the Vogtland: Stars of the East
The Vogtland in eastern Germany produced some of the country’s least known and most fascinating instrument makers. Rudolf Hopfner and Monika Lustig use CT scans to lift the lid on their unusual construction methods, and show why they should be more widely studied
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Pöpel and Kurzendörffer: The Mists of Time Demystified
Just three Vogtland instruments exist from before 1700. All violas, they were made by two of the founders of the region’s first violin making guild. Klaus Martius explores what we know about the mysterious Johann Adam Pöpel and Johann Adam Kurzendörffer
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Academy of St Martin in the Fields at 60: One Big Family
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields celebrates its 60th anniversary this season with a 60-CD box set of its celebrated recordings, and tours to Europe and the US. Toby Deller speaks to some of the orchestra’s long-standing string players about working together democratically and the artistic transition ...
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Session Report: A Voyage of Discovery
French composer Benoît Menut’s new concept album of songs and chamber works takes its listeners on a single, continuous journey across the sea. He and cellist Patrick Langot speak to Tom Stewart about the project
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Béla Katona: A Pupil’s Perspective
Former Béla Katona student Dona Lee Croft, now a professor, recalls her lessons with the Hungarian pedagogue
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Béla Katona: A Teacher Through and Through
One of the 20th century’s greatest violin pedagogues, Béla Katona would have turned 100 this month. Tully Potter charts his life and career, and speaks to former pupils – mainly at London’s Trinity College of Music – about the success of his teaching methods
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Trade Secrets: Neck shaping
A quick and accurate method for this crucial part of the making process
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In Focus: A 1926 violin by Jeromos Cigl
Zoltán Délczeg examines an instrument by the Hungarian maker
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Trade Secrets: Inlay techniques
Giving a decorative flourish to an instrument can add a personal touch – and be a true test of skill
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Making Matters: A head for figures
Luthiers such as Jacob Stainer often surmounted their instruments with elaborately carved heads rather than scrolls. Lloyd McCaffery , a professional wood carver, explains how he developed a modern take on an ancient art form
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Masterclass: Augustin Hadelich on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto first movement - part 1
In the first of two articles, Augustin Hadelich looks at direction and flow in the first movement of this notoriously simple and yet deceptively difficult work
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Technique: A scientific approach to violin resonance
How a basic knowledge of acoustical physics can help us to produce a richer, more ringing tone
![Fiona Bonds - Associate Principal Viola [378]](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67//2/5/3/17253_fionabondsassociateprincipalviola378_263221.jpg)
