All Focus articles – Page 35
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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
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FocusFreehand carving: identifying historical violins from Markneukirchen
In this extract, Enrico Weller and William Wisehart analyse trademark features of violins from the southern Saxony instrument-making town
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FocusHow it started, how it’s going: four top violists share their beginnings
In this compilation of extracts from our regular feature ‘Life Lessons,’ read about how four leading viola players started out on their instrument
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Focus‘A bright key without inhibitions’ - Lewis Kaplan on Bach’s Solo Violin Partita in E major
In this extract from the August 2021 issue, Lewis Kaplan concludes his analysis of the Bach’s Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #7: Hannah Roberts on studies and etudes
‘There is going to be a natural gesture which is completely connected to the music that you’re playing’
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FocusCutting corner blocks: inside the Markneukirchen violin factory
Our August 2021 issue features the bow making legacy of the Herrmann family in Markneukirchen. In this extract from April 2011, Arian Sheets describes the rise and fall of factory violin making in the 20th century in the same city
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FocusExploring the second movement of Brahms Viola Sonata in F minor
In this extract from August 2015, violist Rainer Moog guides us through the nostalgic second movement of op.120 no.1
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Focus7 bow hold insights from historical string players
The way of holding a bow is a topic of endless discussion. Here is what seven influential string players of the past had to say about it
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FocusJulian Rachlin’s tips on the first movement of Brahms Viola Sonata no.1
Tips on finger placement, bow distribution and character in the F minor sonata, taken from the March 2018 Masterclass
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FocusMarkneukirchen merging: linking the Herrmann and Knopf bow making families
In this extract from the August 2021 issue, Gennady Filimonov introduces the Herrmann family of bow makers and their close connections with their contemporaries the Knopfs
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FocusClarinet or viola? The history of Brahms op.120
In this extract from 1997, Michael Freyhan examines the history behind Brahms’ viola sonatas, including the composer’s doubt that they should even be played on the instrument
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Focus‘I think of the countryside when I play this’ - Antoine Tamestit on the third movement of Brahms’ Viola Sonata op.120 no.1
In this extract from the August 2021 Masterclass, violist Antoine Tamestit guides us through the Austrian countryside through rustic dance and seamless legato
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FocusThe ‘Amici Bernardi’ Stradivari sitting at the heart of West Sussex’s cultural life
With a price seemingly out of reach at £1.2 million, Andrew Bernardi shares how he convinced a group of investors to help acquire the violin to bring cultural enrichment to audiences in West Sussex, the UK and abroad
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Focus‘A mecca for gifted students’ - inside Ivan Galamian’s studio
In this extract from September 1997, Barbara L. Sands explores the studio of the great violin pedagogue Ivan Galamian, who taught many students that went on to have flourishing careers
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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
