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EXPLORE PREMIUM THIS WEEK

Geminiani’s scales: a portal to the past

2024-05-07T08:01:00+01:00

Geminiani’s scale exercises in his seminal 1751 treatise The Art of Playing on the Violin may look puzzlingly random to modern eyes, but violinist Benjamin Shute argues that they can reveal useful insights into the thinking behind performance practice of the time

In Focus: c.1810–20 bow by Christian Wilhelm Knopf

2024-05-03T09:10:00+01:00

Matthieu Besseling on a bow by the Knopf dynasty’s patriarch

A mystery unveiled: the makers of Ferrara

2024-05-02T08:02:00+01:00

While scholars have scrutinised the making traditions of various Italian cities, the luthiers of Ferrara have been largely neglected – until now. Florian Leonhard presents the results of recent archival research into Alessandro Mezzadri and the Marconcini family, along with notes on their making styles

Masterclass: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade with violinist Bart Vandenbogaerde

2024-05-01T09:13:00+01:00

Concertmaster of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra guides us through the work based on The Arabian Nights, which demands subtle articulation and careful attention to detail to make its colourful characters come alive. From October 2014

Trade Secrets: An alternative rib construction method

2024-04-30T08:32:00+01:00

Luthier Alan Beavitt shares an option that can guarantee an accurate overhang at the end of the process

Inside May's Magazine

Violinist María Dueñas

The makers of Ferrara

Manchester Collective

Fabio Biondi's latest recording

Geminiani's scales

Decorating a bow frog

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Geminiani’s scales: a portal to the past

2024-05-07T08:01:00+01:00

In Focus: c.1810–20 bow by Christian Wilhelm Knopf

2024-05-03T09:10:00+01:00

Matthieu Besseling on a bow by the Knopf dynasty’s patriarch

Featured People

Making her mark: violinist María Dueñas
Although she’s only 21, the Spanish violinist María Dueñas is already a rapidly rising star in the musical world. Tom Stewart speaks to the young virtuoso about how she has created her own unique and distinctive voice on the instrument
Opinion: Choosing the right repertoire for group instrumental lessons
With the growth in popularity of group instrumental lessons, it’s never been more important to match the music to the pupil says cellist, composer and teacher Thomas Gregory
Sentimental Work: Christian Poltéra on Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello
The challenges of Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello led to a memorable encounter between the Swiss cellist and his childhood hero, Mstislav Rostropovich

Making her mark: violinist María Dueñas

Although she’s only 21, the Spanish violinist María Dueñas is already a rapidly rising star in the musical world. Tom Stewart speaks to the young virtuoso about how she has created her own unique and distinctive voice on the instrument

Opinion: Choosing the right repertoire for group instrumental lessons

With the growth in popularity of group instrumental lessons, it’s never been more important to match the music to the pupil says cellist, composer and teacher Thomas Gregory

Sentimental Work: Christian Poltéra on Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello

The challenges of Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello led to a memorable encounter between the Swiss cellist and his childhood hero, Mstislav Rostropovich

Learn From The Experts

Masterclass: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade with violinist Bart Vandenbogaerde

Long Reads

Pierre Rode: The Rode less travelled

He is best remembered for his didactic 24 Caprices, but there’s much more to Pierre Rode. For the French virtuoso’s 250th anniversary, Charlotte Gardner reveals a colourful life story and hears from the German violinist Friedemann Eichhorn, who has revived and recorded all of Rode’s 13 violin concertos

All-female string quartets after the First World War

In the second and final part of his survey, Tully Potter reveals the extent of the explosion of all-female quartets that occurred after the First World War in the UK, Europe, the US and the Soviet Union, as well as notable mixed ones

German bow makers in America: Across the Atlantic

Many, if not most, of the earliest bow makers working in America originally hailed from Germany. Raphael Gold discovers how they helped lay the foundations for the industry

Sphinx Organization: Change for good

For the past quarter-century the Sphinx Organization has worked tirelessly to bring much-needed diversity to the US classical music scene. Bruce Hodges examines its achievements, and hears from its founder and its president about the future

'When someone is healthy inside, it sounds that way' - Mental health services in conservatoires

Rita Fernandes hears from administrators, counsellors and teachers from music schools about what defines a successful conservatoire mental health support system

Lutherie

Pierre Rode: The Rode less travelled

Masterclass: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade with violinist Bart Vandenbogaerde

‘Dream big and give yourself time to try things out’ - violinist Tim Kliphuis’s life lessons

The Dutch violinist recalls his journey to discovering his own distinct style and sound

Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata no.8, first movement

Violinist Viktoria Mullova describes how knowledge of historical style, a sense of spontaneity and precise metronome work are crucial for pulling off this cheeky movement

Technique: Creative fingering for double bassists

Belgian double bassist David Desimpelaere explores the ongoing quest for new and personal solutions

Technique: the connections between cello and voice

Cellist and operatic baritone Matthew Sharp shares tips on how to embody and inhabit your sound

Long Reads

Pierre Rode: The Rode less travelled

All-female string quartets after the First World War

German bow makers in America: Across the Atlantic

Many, if not most, of the earliest bow makers working in America originally hailed from Germany. Raphael Gold discovers how they helped lay the foundations for the industry

Sphinx Organization: Change for good

'When someone is healthy inside, it sounds that way' - Mental health services in conservatoires

Rita Fernandes hears from administrators, counsellors and teachers from music schools about what defines a successful conservatoire mental health support system

Grace, charm and effortless elegance: remembering violinist Jacques Thibaud

To mark the 70th anniversary of the death of French violinist Jacques Thibaud, Tully Potter looks back at the life of one of the 20th century’s most influential musicians

Lutherie

Violin maker Otto Schünemann: A Romantic visionary
Although Otto Schünemann’s violins were praised by everyone from Vuillaume to Sarasate, his name is barely recognised today. Clifford Hall tells the story of this idealistic luthier who strove to bring the glories of the Cremonese masters to 19th-century Germany
In Focus: A c.1800 violin by Joseph Panormo
Andrew Fairfax on the UK-based Italian maker’s turn-of-the-century instrument
The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton collection
The Strad Calendar 2024 pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s finest stringed instrument collections, put together in just a couple of decades by American violin collector David L. Fulton. Christian Lloyd examines the treasures

Zosimo Bergonzi: Family fortunes

Zosimo Bergonzi, son of Carlo, was for a time the only luthier active in Cremona . Michel Samson tracks his career through his known works

Great Instruments

The Fulton collection: Magnificent obsession

For decades, top soloists would visit the home of David Fulton to sample the treasures of his legendary collection. Now dispersed, the instruments have been brought together again in book form. The collector shares some of the highlights with Christian Lloyd

The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton collection
The Strad Calendar 2024 pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s finest stringed instrument collections, put together in just a couple of decades by American violin collector David L. Fulton. Christian Lloyd examines the treasures
From the archive: a 1618 Henry Jaye viol
The work of British violin maker Henry Jaye is testament to the unsung tradition of viol making in 17th-century London. John Dilworth examines a strikingly varnished Jaye instrument from 1618
In Focus: a seven-string bass viol by Michel Colichon
Shem Mackey explores this quirky instrument by the French maker