The Strad August 2020 issue is out now

TWOSET VIOLIN: Kimon Daltas talks to Australian violinists Brett Yang and Eddy Chen, whose comedy videos have brought them millions of followers on YouTube

LUTHERIE COLLECTIVES: Groups of violin makers are appearing all over Europe and the US, to share their knowledge and promote each other’s work. Peter Somerford finds out more

FINDING THE RIGHT BOW: The aptly named Benjamin Bowman describes how he found his ‘forever bow’, taking in examples by Tourte, Henry, Knopf, Sartory and the Peccatte family

SESSION REPORT: Harry White talks to violinist Viktoria Mullova and her son, double bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado, about their first joint recording of duos

D.C. DOUNIS: The Greek-born pedagogue was highly sought-after in 20th-century America – so why are his techniques so little-used today? James Dickenson takes a closer look

VIOLIN MAKING IN MEXICO: Lutherie has a longer history in the New World than is usually appreciated. Pablo Alfaro and Jaime G. González track its development from the 16th century

In our regular sections:

In the issue’s Masterclass violinist Tai Murray completes her two-part look at the first movement of Beethoven’s ’Triple’ Concerto; in Technique cellist Tomáš Jamník gives tips for mastering cross-string flying staccato; British violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky discusses his career and musical experiences in Life Lessons; plus in Sentimental Work violinist Vadim Repin explains his love for Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto no.2. 

We inspect a violin from 1710 by Alessandro Gagliano in In Focus; in Trade Secrets Grzegorz Bobak discusses labour-saving devices designed to make life easier at the workbench; My Space looks behind the scenes in the workshop of Minnesota’s John Waddle; and in Making Matters John Beames presents a detailed examination of a single bridge.

We also bring you news of the latest products and auctions, plus our regular analysis and opinion columns, and comprehensive reviews of concerts, CDs and books. Simply go to the current issue to explore the full content listing. 

Plus, in your digital edition: 

• View more sensational photos from the Teatro Liceu in Barcelona, where the UceLi Quartet performed to an audience of 2,292 plants
• More from this issue’s My Space workshop, where Minnesota luthier John Waddle describes his experience of the Black Lives Matter protests in June
• Violin maker Maria Sandner used her time in lockdown to craft perfect miniature violins. See more from her amazing gallery
• And of course, clips from this month’s three recordings honoured with the title ‘The Strad Recommends’

The digital magazine and print edition are on sale now, or subscribe to access the entire magazine online here.