All Focus articles – Page 30
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FocusPlaying along with Bach: composing descants for Bach’s cello preludes
Brian Forst writes about former White House violinist Peter Wilson’s journey to compose descant parts to Bach’s cello preludes - not only as a pandemic project, but as a gift for a special someone
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #19: Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason on sibling collaboration
The cello-piano sibling duo speak about working together ahead of their new album ‘Muse’, out on 5 November
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi double bass c.1770
Landolfi’s choice of wood ranges from plain maple scrolls to highly flamed backs
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FocusDealing with Dystonia
Violinist Bernard Zinck shares his experiences of his devastating diagnosis of focal dystonia in his forties and his rehabilitation process to resume playing
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Focus‘There’s nothing like a good bass-line!’- the role of a continuo player in Baroque music
Cellist of the CBSO Baroque Ensemble Jackie Tyler MBE shares her insights on the role of a continuo player, as well as how working with wind players and her Baroque cello set-up inform her playing
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FocusBow holds of the great violinists
How does the positioning of fingers on the bow affect sound and flexibility? Rok Klopčič examines the bow holds of leading violinists and pedagogues in this extract from October 2007
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FocusHow to improve your sound by practising on open strings
Cello professor at the Geneva–Neuchâtel University of Music, Bern University of the Arts, and Zakhar Bron School of Music in Zurich, Denis Severin shares exercises on open strings to enhance tone and fluidity of sound
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Focus‘A moment of audience feedback I’ll treasure forever’ - recalling musical memories with dementia
London Sinfonietta cellist Adrian Bradbury writes about the joy of witnessing a dementia patient recall melodies from her past while working on a new chamber opera ’Tomorrow’s Wonder… A Window into Our Lives’
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FocusFrom Tulips to Sneez-wort: the works of James Oswald
The Baroque-era composer created many melodies infused with the Scottish folk characteristics of his upbringing
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #18: Rakhi Singh on creativity
’Putting myself in a space where I had no expectations of myself… it was liberating, it freed me up to use my ears and my heart more’
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: Pietro Guarneri of Venice violin 1725
Known as the ‘Reine Elisabeth’, this is the most expensive instrument bought by the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation
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FocusHappy Birthday to Niccolò Paganini!
The great violinist was born on this day in 1782. Happy 239th birthday!
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FocusMemories of cellist John Gwilt
Students and colleagues of Gwilt share their memories of the celebrated cellist, who died last month aged 91, in this compilation from his wife Dawn
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FocusJames Ehnes: ‘You should never be scared of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto’
Beethoven’s Violin Concerto has been a mainstay of the Canadian violinist’s repertoire since his teenage years, but it retains its ability to inspire
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FocusBack to business: Postcard from Sun Valley
Following 2020’s Summer Season of broadcasts, this year’s Sun Valley Music Festival returned to free live performances, much to the delight of its thousands of fans, writes Laurence Vittes
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FocusAn obituary for cellist John Gwilt
The distinguished cellist died last month aged 91. Dawn Gwilt shares the life story of her late husband, former co-director of the International Cello Centre with Jane Cowan and teacher of Steven Isserlis
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FocusPhoto gallery: Chad Hoopes’s violin
Check out photos of Sam Zygmuntowicz’s copy of the 1740 ‘Ysaÿe’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin, played by our November 2021 cover star
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FocusMasterclass: Beethoven Spring Sonata
James Ehnes gives his thoughts on the composer’s celebrated F major Sonata, disputing some accepted conventions and providing annotations for the first and second movements. From March 2016
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FocusMasterclass: Jan Vogler on Beethoven Cello Sonata op.69
Cellist Jan Vogler explores the first movement of the first-ever sonata to give equal weight to both piano and cello
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #17: Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider on competitions
The violinist and president of the Carl Nielsen International Competition speaks about making competitions a more inclusive environment, as well as tips for future contestants
