All Focus articles – Page 30
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FocusOpen to change: a history of scordatura
In this extract from June 2003, Pauline Nobes delves into the history and purpose of scordatura from the 17th-century onwards
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FocusDaniil Shafran’s practice routine
A cellist who never enjoyed widespread success, Shafran adhered to a strict practice regimen that enabled his unique virtuosity and technique celebrated within the cello community of the 20th century
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FocusGut reaction: the worst job in history?
How to make gut strings the 18th-century way. From February 2011
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Focus9 thoughts about playing on gut strings
We delve into The Strad archive for advice and opinion on using natural gut strings
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FocusBaiba Skride: Life Lessons
The Latvian violinist recalls growing up in a musical family, and stresses the importance of hard work
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FocusThe rhetorical nature of Baroque music: learning to speak with the bow
Walter Reiter discusses how the rhetorical narrative in Baroque music must be reflected in how players use the bow, illustrating the parallels between spoken word and string playing
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #9: Anne Akiko Meyers on new commissions
The violinist speaks about working closely with composers on new works and cadenzas
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FocusAsk the Experts: what to look for in a Baroque bow
In this article from the June 2016 issue, Strad readers submit their problems and queries about string playing, teaching or making to a panel of experts
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Focus‘Planting seeds for my relationship with music’ - Hilary Hahn and the Suzuki method
As a former Suzuki student, violinist Hilary Hahn shares her earliest memories of lessons and how they shaped her into the musician she is now
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FocusEsther Yoo’s instrument and bow
Read violinist Esther Yoo’s personal insights on the tools of her trade
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FocusA weighty argument: wood density in violins
John Waddle, Steve Rossow and Steve Sirr discuss how wood density can vastly affect the acoustic properties of violins
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FocusMystery lady: investigating female violinists in Georgian England
Upon stumbling across a portrait of an unnamed musician, Kevin MacDonald delved into the lives of several female violinists in the 18th-century, all with fascinating stories
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FocusCT scanning and the ‘Betts’ Stradivari
John Waddle shows how CT scanning technology is used to examine the structure and wood density of the ‘Betts’ Stradivari
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FocusMusical architecture - sound in time and space
Violist Hsin-Yun Huang writes about how acknowledging the ephemerality of music in space and time allows for greater freedom and joy in music-making
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FocusSentimental work: Jennifer Stumm on Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata
For the American violist, this 1919 work brings back memories of early successes and the inspirational teacher who introduced it to her
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #8: Christian Li’s life as a young violinist
The Strad Podcast’s youngest guest (so far) speaks about his routines and rituals as a violinist
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FocusEthel Smyth: life as a suffragette and composer
A life including political activism and a stint in prison didn’t stop Ethel Smyth’s extensive musical output. Taken from the August 2008 issue.
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Focus‘A subtle blend of delicacy and strength’ - Five female composers from Russia and Poland
In this extract from March 2011, Ian Lawrence explores the string music of Gubaidulina, Firsova, Bacewicz, Bruzdowicz and Szymanska
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FocusPaul Neubauer: Sentimental Work
The US violist explores Joan Tower’s solo viola work Wild Purple, a testament to the close working relationship between the composer and the performer. From the November 2016 issue
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Focus‘The lyre of Orpheus’ - the life and works of Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen
In our August 2021 issue, Kevin MacDonald investigates the lives and careers of female violinists in Georgian England. Read this extract profiling Italian violinist Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen, who enjoyed success both as a performer and composer