Featured Stories – Page 2
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‘She plays like a man’ - From the archive: April 1904
New York correspondent Thomas C. Dawson reports on a performance by Maud Powell and solves a mystery regarding the violins of virtuoso Ede Reményi (1828–98)
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Blogs
The Viola’s White Knight: Hermann Ritter and the quest for the perfect Alto instrument
Daniel Orsen delves into the history of the Viola Alta - an instrument championed by Hermann Ritter and Richard Wagner that aimed to optimise the acoustics and physicality of the viola
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The life and legacy of cellist Boris Pergamenschikow
Russian cellist Boris Pergamenschikow enjoyed an influential career both teaching and playing in Europe after leaving the Soviet Union, before his untimely death twenty years ago. Oskar Falta examines his legacy and hears from some of his former students
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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
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Blogs
‘I dismantled it almost entirely’ - Writing improvisatory and jazz-infused Lutosławski arrangements
In conversation with The Strad, New York-based jazz bassist, improviser and composer Michael Bates outlines how he arranged seven Lutosławski works for jazz quintet and string quartet
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Session Report: the Carducci Quartet on recording Shostakovich
As the Carducci Quartet releases its third Shostakovich disc, Tom Stewart hears from the group’s violist and cellist about the extreme contrasts between the two featured pieces – the ninth and fifteenth string quartets
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Blogs
‘How do you make that first mistake?’ - Jazz violinist Scott Tixier on the power of improvisation
The French violinist on his journey into jazz and how the principles of improvisation broaden expressive capabilities and encourage flexibility, imagination and a deeper connection to music, regardless of genre
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Violinist Augustin Hadelich: ‘Just let the music speak’
The virtuoso violinist Augustin Hadelich defies categorisation; he is the product of several cultures that he draws on to produce a sound that is distinctly his own. He talks to Ariane Todes about his influences and how he developed his unique musicianship
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Focus
Practice Diary: The Escher Quartet
Second violinist Aaron Boyd discusses a rehearsal of Mendelssohn’s String Quartet no.4
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Blogs
Louise Bichan: a fiddler combining music with photography
Louise Bichan shares photographs of natural landscapes from her numerous travels that have inspired her music making
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Blogs
Delving into the trios and quartet for piano and strings by Robert Schumann
Ahead of the release of a third volume of Robert Schumman’s chamber works, violinist and pianist Pierre and Théo Fouchenneret explore the pieces’ history, as well as the influence of Clara Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn
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Blogs
Pedagogy and playing resources: a reading list from cellist Guy Johnston
Alongside his interview for The Strad Podcast, the cellist shares the manuals and resources that have informed his playing and teaching career so far
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Focus
Born on this day: cellist Mstislav Rostropovich
Today we’re shining a light on the titan of cello playing, who was born on 27 March 1927
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Blogs
‘Expressive, honeyed tone with effortless charm’: Patrick Savage on the Hollywood violin sound
The violinist discusses gems of discovery during the glittering age of film music, ahead of the release of his new album The Golden Age of Hollywood: Concert Works for Violin and Piano
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Postcard from Beijing: Global Music Education League competition
The first violin edition of the Global Music Education League competition took place in Beijing following a four-year delay due to the pandemic. Emma Baker travelled to China to hear the finals
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Analysis April 2024: Discrimination towards LGBTQ+ musicians
A new report highlights the experience of LGBTQ+ musicians in the UK’s orchestral landscape, revealing that discrimination is still all too common in such environments
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Violinist Joshua Bell: ‘Everybody’s playing like their life depends upon it’
Violinist Joshua Bell chats with Pauline Harding about transcending the pyrotechnics of Paganini, the inspiring ethos of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and celebrations to mark the centenary of the orchestra’s founder, Neville Marriner
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'Your own voice must be in charge': Creating an improvised violin concerto
Can a new work encourage young, classically trained string players to lose their fear of improvisation and find their individual voice? Violinist Christina Åstrand and composer Signe Lykke explain the concept to Andrew Mellor
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‘So don’t sit around and think – go and find your audience!’ - Tai Murray’s life lessons
The US violinist on finding your voice and the transition from student to professional
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‘How many repairers encountered smashed cello necks?’ - Letters to the editor April 2024
A selection of letters The Strad receives each month from its readers around the world: April 2024 issue