All Featured Stories articles – Page 78
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BlogsSongs without words: arranging popular classics of Azerbaijan for violin and guitar
Violinist Nazrin Rashidova writes about transcribing popular Azerbaijani songs with an aim to explore and expand the repertoire for violin and classical guitar
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Focus‘There is no separation of music and technique’ – Joshua Bell on virtuosic encores
The violinist explains why it’s crucial to prioritise musicality as well as technical prowess when performing encores by Paganini, Wieniawski and Vieuxtemps
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FocusPaganini’s 24 Caprices: achieving a musically informed performance
Violinist and The Strad’s editorial assistant Rita Fernandes on the importance of reconciling technique and musicality when learning Paganini’s 24 Caprices for Solo Violin
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Focus'A shocking surprise': uncovering Bach’s Partita for Solo Violin no.2 in D minor BWV1004
Following analysis of Bach’s Partita no.1 in B minor BWV1002, Lewis Kaplan introduces the mighty Partita no.2 in D minor BWV1004 in this extract from the August 2021 issue
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FocusOpinion: Relaxed body, focused mind
The art of Chinese calligraphy has much to teach us about playing a stringed instrument, writes violist Hsin-Yun Huang
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Premium ❘ FeatureBrahms: the viola’s champion
In this article from the May 1997 issue, Michael Freyhan examines how Brahms was one of the first composers to appreciate the viola’s potential, giving the instrument a chance to shine through his chamber music
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NewsCellist and conductor Allan Stephenson has died
The musician, conductor and composer was 71 years old
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FocusA blessing in disguise: recording Piazzolla’s works during a pandemic
In this extract from the August issue Session Report, violinist Karen Gomyo shares the challenges imposed by Covid-19 that resulted in unprecedented upsides while recording her new album of works by Piazzolla
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FocusThe ‘Ševčík Colony’: the global spread of a master pedagogue
In this extract from the December 2009 issue, Endre Granat outlines the international movements of violin professor Otakar Ševčík in the early 20th-century
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FocusEsther Yoo: ‘I try to share my journey so that people are aware of the challenges, not just the fancy end product’
Our August issue cover star Esther Yoo illustrates how she uses social media to share her musical knowledge and dispel the mystique of an international concert career
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FocusLeft-hand agility in Dont Etude op.35 no.8
In this extract from the May 1999 issue, violinist Zakhar Bron shares tips on hand shape and intonation when playing thirds in Dont Etude op.35 no.8
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Premium ❘ FeaturePlaying Concertos the Ševčík Way
His method books transformed violin pedagogy, but Otakar Ševčík’s later studies based around the concerto repertoire languished until rediscovered by Endre Granat. In this article from December 2009, Granat argues that Ševčík’s analytical approach can be applied to any work
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FocusAvoiding the ‘neutral zone’- what to do with your bow when playing violin trills
Violinist Zakhar Bron discusses creating a smooth line when playing trills in the op.36 no.6 etude by Dont
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolin Masterclass: Playing Thirds in Dont’s Etude op.35 no.8
Violin teacher Zakhar Bron provides tips for practising the op.35 no.8 Etude by Dont
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolin Masterclass: Co-ordination and Trilling in Dont's Etude op.35 no.6
In the first of two articles, violin teacher Zakhar Bron provides tips for practising the op.35 no.6 etude by Dont
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Premium ❘ FeatureYampolsky study: Wrist-crippling finger-twister
Rok Klopčič gives tips on getting your hands around the fiendish Yampolsky study in this article from June 2009
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FocusWhen Kyung Wha Chung met Bach’s Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas
Our August 2021 issue features Juilliard professor Lewis Kaplan examining Bach’s Solo Partitas. Read an extract from our October 2016 Session Report issue featuring violinist Kyung Wha Chung
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FocusA blank slate: recording Bach’s Cello Suites on viola
In this extract from January 1999, Simon Rowland-Jones shares the challenges encountered when recording Bach’s Cello Suites on viola
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Premium ❘ FeatureFrom the archive: Interpreting Bach
When asked to record Bach’s Cello Suites, violist Simon Rowland-Jones chose to produce his own edition from which to work. He discusses his approach and the various problems it posed.
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession report: Bach unravelled
With her long-awaited recording of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas finally here, Korean violinist Kyung Wha Chung discusses her special affinity with the works and explains how 50 years of playing them has shaped her approach Taken from the October 2016 issue of The Strad
