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Seasons Interrupted: a cellist reflects on climate change
Who was violinist Isolde Menges?
Analysis June 2024: Is ipê an alternative for pernambuco?
The Strad Recommends: Trio Boccherini: Hungarian String Trios
My experience: double bassist Alex Ferkey, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance London
My experience: double bassist Alex Ferkey, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance London
‘If you want to strive for something a bit different, then I’d recommend Trinity Laban,’ says the double bassist
Concertgebouw cancels Jerusalem Quartet performances
Safety concerns amid recent protest action have been cited as the reason for the cancellation of the concerts on 16 and 18 May
Shining a light on Poldowski: violinist Gwendolyn Masin
Poldowski was the pen name of Irena Regina Wieniawski - Henryk’s daughter. With 16 May marking Poldowski’s birth date, Masin explores the tricky territory of her unknown work Tango
Playing Hub
Shining a light on Poldowski: violinist Gwendolyn Masin
Poldowski was the pen name of Irena Regina Wieniawski - Henryk’s daughter. With 16 May marking Poldowski’s birth date, Masin explores the tricky territory of her unknown work Tango
Cellist Laura van der Heijden: new ways of thinking
Although British cellist Laura van der Heijden is well versed in live performance and studio recording, she is still discovering new facets of her musical personality, as Toby Deller finds out
The Henschel Quartet: ‘Music will never let you down’
The Henschel Quartet celebrates its 30th anniversary this season. Co-founder and violist Monika Henschel-Schwind speaks to Andrew Stewart about the group’s longevity, and looks forward to the premiere of Freda Swain’s neglected ‘Norfolk’ String Quartet at Aldeburgh this summer
Session Report: the Miró Quartet on recording new album ‘Home’
Their latest recording gathers new music and 20th-century works by US composers, but the Miró Quartet musicians are always mindful of melodic accessibility. Harry White hears from cellist Joshua Gindele about the group’s commissioning process and recording the album
Three’s company: the rise of piano trios
Are piano trios having a sudden renaissance? Charlotte Gardner hears from industry professionals and from musicians who relish the repertoire offered by this flexible but underrated chamber grouping
Premiere of the Month: Nathalie Joachim’s new cello concerto for Seth Parker Woods
The Black dandyism fashion movement spawns a new cello concerto
Premium ❘ Feature
Cellist Laura van der Heijden: new ways of thinking
Although British cellist Laura van der Heijden is well versed in live performance and studio recording, she is still discovering new facets of her musical personality, as Toby Deller finds out
Premium ❘ Feature
The luthier's guide to good customer relationships
As a general rule, luthiers tend to be better at making instruments than making friends. Violin maker Korinthia A. Klein gives some hints and tips on good customer relations – both for the people entering the workshop and for those running it
Premium ❘ Feature
Cellist Laura van der Heijden: new ways of thinking
Although British cellist Laura van der Heijden is well versed in live performance and studio recording, she is still discovering new facets of her musical personality, as Toby Deller finds out
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Utrecht: Netherlands Violin Competition and Night of the Violin festival
Laurence Vittes found himself impressed by the talent at the Netherlands Violin Competition in Utrecht, as well as swept away by the diverse array of non-classical styles at its sister Night of the Violin festival
Premium ❘ Focus
Sentimental Work: Andrés Cárdenes on Chausson’s Poème
The Cuban-born violinist feels a rapport with the opulence of Chausson’s Poème – particularly with the revisions by its dedicatee, Eugène Ysaÿe
Competitions
Violin winners announced at the Prague Spring International Music Competition
Japanese violinist Tsukushi Sasaki took first prize of CZK 250,000, as well as special prizes including recording and performance opportunities
2024 Concert Artists Guild Competition Winners Announced
Nathan Amaral, Leland Ko, and the Poiesis Quartet join the Concert Artists Guild roster
Queen Elisabeth Competition names violin semi-finalists for 2024
24 candidates will perform a concerto and a recital in the semi-final rounds this week, which conclude on Saturday 18 May
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Britta Byström’s new violin concerto for Janine Jansen
Day and night inspire a new violin concerto
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Nathalie Joachim’s new cello concerto for Seth Parker Woods
The Black dandyism fashion movement spawns a new cello concerto
Masterclass: Franck Violin Sonata on double bass, first movement
Taking inspiration from Jacqueline du Pré and singers, double bassist Michael Rieber shares tips on cultivating Franck’s delicate sound world, despite playing stratospherically high on the instrument
Masterclass: Christine Hoock on Vanhal Double Bass Concerto
In our August 2016 issue, double bassist Christine Hoock emphasises serenity, clarity and flow, and the importance of preparation when tackling the first movement of this overtly Classical piece
Masterclass: Franck Violin Sonata on double bass, first movement
Taking inspiration from Jacqueline du Pré and singers, double bassist Michael Rieber shares tips on cultivating Franck’s delicate sound world, despite playing stratospherically high on the instrument
Masterclass: Christine Hoock on Vanhal Double Bass Concerto
In our August 2016 issue, double bassist Christine Hoock emphasises serenity, clarity and flow, and the importance of preparation when tackling the first movement of this overtly Classical piece
Masterclass: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade with violinist Bart Vandenbogaerde
Concertmaster of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra guides us through the work based on The Arabian Nights, which demands subtle articulation and careful attention to detail to make its colourful characters come alive. From October 2014
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 announced at the Prague Spring International Music Competition
Japanese violinist Tsukushi Sasaki took first prize of CZK 250,000, as well as special prizes including recording and performance opportunities
2024 Concert Artists Guild Competition Winners Announced
Nathan Amaral, Leland Ko, and the Poiesis Quartet join the Concert Artists Guild roster
Queen Elisabeth Competition names violin semi-finalists for 2024
24 candidates will perform a concerto and a recital in the semi-final rounds this week, which conclude on Saturday 18 May
Violinist Luka Faulisi plays ‘El Cant des Ocells’
Rising Italian-Serbian-French violinist Faulisi performs the traditional Catalan song, popularised by cellist Pablo Casals
Violinist Luka Faulisi plays ‘El Cant des Ocells’
New video: Novo Quartet performs Weinberg
Miró Quartet performs ‘Over the rainbow’
Did AI just kill classical music? A video from violinist Daniel Kurganov
A jaunty performance from early music specialists Ensemble Diderot
A documentary on Icelandic luthier Hans Jóhannsson
Solo Bach in Alaska from cellist Yo-Yo Ma
A star-studded line up performs Mozart Sinfonia concertante
Exploring Piazzolla’s sound effects by violinist Tomás Cotik
New video: Wagner’s ‘Träume’ for viola and piano
- Previous
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Analysis June 2024: Is ipê an alternative for pernambuco?
With pernambuco in danger of being permanently off limits to bow makers, could another Brazilian hardwood – ipê – be the solution?
The luthier's guide to good customer relationships
As a general rule, luthiers tend to be better at making instruments than making friends. Violin maker Korinthia A. Klein gives some hints and tips on good customer relations – both for the people entering the workshop and for those running it
Taking acoustic measurements from internal vibrations
Normally, acoustic measurements are taken from outside the instrument – but the internal vibrations can reveal even more. Colin Gough presents a method for listening inside the soundbox and demonstrates what it can tell us about the sound
Trade Secrets: A workshop facility to measure violin family acoustics
Creating an apparatus for routine quick and easy measurements while making and setting up the violin and related instruments
Bridging the decades: Bridges from the archive
Instrument bridges have become pretty much standardised in the modern era, but in days of yore they came under as much scrutiny as strings, mutes and chin rests. These advertisements taken from the first half of The Strad ’s history testify to their designers’ ingenuity
In Focus: A 1927 violin by Evasio Emilio Guerra
Andrea Schudtz examines the Turin maker’s early 20th-century instrument
Analysis June 2024: Is ipê an alternative for pernambuco?
With pernambuco in danger of being permanently off limits to bow makers, could another Brazilian hardwood – ipê – be the solution?
The luthier's guide to good customer relationships
As a general rule, luthiers tend to be better at making instruments than making friends. Violin maker Korinthia A. Klein gives some hints and tips on good customer relations – both for the people entering the workshop and for those running it
Taking acoustic measurements from internal vibrations
Normally, acoustic measurements are taken from outside the instrument – but the internal vibrations can reveal even more. Colin Gough presents a method for listening inside the soundbox and demonstrates what it can tell us about the sound
Trade Secrets: A workshop facility to measure violin family acoustics
Creating an apparatus for routine quick and easy measurements while making and setting up the violin and related instruments
Bridging the decades: Bridges from the archive
Instrument bridges have become pretty much standardised in the modern era, but in days of yore they came under as much scrutiny as strings, mutes and chin rests. These advertisements taken from the first half of The Strad ’s history testify to their designers’ ingenuity
In Focus: A 1927 violin by Evasio Emilio Guerra
Andrea Schudtz examines the Turin maker’s early 20th-century instrument
Concert review: Piatti Quartet
Tim Homfray hears the performance of Ina Boyle and Dvořák at London’s Kings Place on 20 March 2024
Concert review: Esther Yoo (violin) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Clemens Schuldt
Peter Quantrill hears the premiere of Raymond Yiu’s Violin Concerto at London’s Barbican Hall on 20 March 2024
Concert review: Julia Fischer (violin) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Gardner
Peter Quantrill listens to the performance of Daniel Kidane’s violin concerto Aloud at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 16 March 2024
The Strad Recommends: Trio Boccherini: Hungarian String Trios
An established ensemble gives new voice to Hungarian string trios
The Strad Recommends: Viktoria Mullova: Beethoven
This winning duo stands out for its recreative flair
Yoshika Masuda: Hidden Flame
Fine playing is undermined by a problematic recording
Book review: Violin Junior
Celia Cobb reviews Ros Stephen’s latest collection of method books aimed at younger players
Book review: Quartet: How Four Women Changed the Musical World
Tully Potter reviews Leah Broad’s account of the lives of four pioneering women in music: Ethel Smyth, Rebecca Clarke, Dorothy Howell and Doreen Carwithen
Book review: The Living Art of Violin Playing: Progressive Form
Philippa Bunting reviews Maureen Taranto-Pyatt’s well-described account of her theories on ’progressive form’
Debate
Opinion: Independence of the left-hand thumb
To free up left-hand technique, violinist and teacher Martin Goldman encourages players to think more carefully about their thumb as an independent entity, yet still in close partnership with the four fingers
Opinion: Choosing the right repertoire for group instrumental lessons
With the growth in popularity of group instrumental lessons, it’s never been more important to match the music to the pupil says cellist, composer and teacher Thomas Gregory
Debate
Opinion: Independence of the left-hand thumb
To free up left-hand technique, violinist and teacher Martin Goldman encourages players to think more carefully about their thumb as an independent entity, yet still in close partnership with the four fingers
Opinion: Choosing the right repertoire for group instrumental lessons
With the growth in popularity of group instrumental lessons, it’s never been more important to match the music to the pupil says cellist, composer and teacher Thomas Gregory
Accessories
Products June 2024: Forte3D carbon fibre cello
The world’s first 3D-printed carbon fibre cello
Products June 2024: ArcRest shoulder rest
The company has released new alternative species versions of their shoulder rest
Products June 2024: Arcofrog German bass frog bow replica
The company has added a German bass bow hold version
Concert review: Piatti Quartet
Tim Homfray hears the performance of Ina Boyle and Dvořák at London’s Kings Place on 20 March 2024
Concert review: Esther Yoo (violin) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Clemens Schuldt
Peter Quantrill hears the premiere of Raymond Yiu’s Violin Concerto at London’s Barbican Hall on 20 March 2024
Concert review: Julia Fischer (violin) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Gardner
Peter Quantrill listens to the performance of Daniel Kidane’s violin concerto Aloud at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 16 March 2024
Book review: Violin Junior
Celia Cobb reviews Ros Stephen’s latest collection of method books aimed at younger players
Book review: Quartet: How Four Women Changed the Musical World
Tully Potter reviews Leah Broad’s account of the lives of four pioneering women in music: Ethel Smyth, Rebecca Clarke, Dorothy Howell and Doreen Carwithen
Book review: The Living Art of Violin Playing: Progressive Form
Philippa Bunting reviews Maureen Taranto-Pyatt’s well-described account of her theories on ’progressive form’
The Strad Recommends: Trio Boccherini: Hungarian String Trios
An established ensemble gives new voice to Hungarian string trios
The Strad Recommends: Viktoria Mullova: Beethoven
This winning duo stands out for its recreative flair
Yoshika Masuda: Hidden Flame
Fine playing is undermined by a problematic recording
Artists
Who was violinist Isolde Menges?
As Biddulph Recordings releases a 2-CD set of the violinist’s historic recordings on 17 May, learn more about Isolde Menges’s illustrious career and influence
Practice diary: cellist Jan Vogler
The German cellist gets to grips with gut strings, Schumann, Elgar and Kabalevsky. From April 2016
Great violinists: Yehudi Menuhin
Julian Haylock examines the player whose openness and sincerity gave even lighter music a profound emotional resonance
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