July 2025

We examine the 1730 ‘Farina’ cello by Montagnana, and pay tribute to instrument expert Charles Beare, who died in April. There’s a look at adventurous US string quartets and an interview with British violinist–composer Adam Summerhayes. Plus a Dvořák Masterclass with Camden Shaw of the Dover Quartet.

July 2025 Cover

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From this month's magazine

Power and majesty: Domenico Montagnana ‘Farina’ cello 1730

Made by Domenico Montagnana in 1730, the ‘Farina’ cello is a stunning instrument with a rich, powerful sound. John Waddle and Steve Sirr delve into its history and show how CT scans helped gather measurements for this month’s poster

Adam Summerhayes: Music shaped by instinct

Adam Summerhayes is a violinist and composer who combines his flair for improvisation and a love of folk music with a classical training and technique. He speaks to Alexandra Petropoulos about his latest projects and his very special instruments

Postcard from Newark: Newark School Lutherie Day

Students, amateurs and professional makers all came together at this year’s Lutherie Day for talks on anything violin-related. Christian Lloyd went along

Cover story

Farina Montagnana

Power and majesty: Domenico Montagnana ‘Farina’ cello 1730

Made by Domenico Montagnana in 1730, the ‘Farina’ cello is a stunning instrument with a rich, powerful sound. John Waddle and Steve Sirr delve into its history and show how CT scans helped gather measurements for this month’s poster

Playing

Brooklyn Rider 1 cr Sarah Small

Staying power: US String Quartets

As Brooklyn Rider and the Jack and the Miró quartets mark milestone anniversaries, Thomas May looks at how these contemporary American ensembles are not just surviving, but reshaping the 21st-century musical landscape

Lutherie

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Postcard from Newark: Newark School Lutherie Day

Students, amateurs and professional makers all came together at this year’s Lutherie Day for talks on anything violin-related. Christian Lloyd went along

Technique

Whitcomb-landscape

Technique: knowing your chords

Encouraging students to know their chords and understand how they work

Masterclass

Dover Quartet 3_photo credit Roy Cox

Masterclass: Dvořák String Quartet no.12 ‘American’, second movement

Cellist of the Dover Quartet Camden Shaw illustrates the importance of sound exploration in this bittersweet movement that can be seen as a metaphor for life and its many tribulations