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Analysis December 2024: Supporting musicians with Long Covid
Although the Covid pandemic is regarded as over, musicians around the world are still suffering its effects. What support is there for victims of Long Covid?
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Postcard from Switzerland: Gstaad Menuhin Festival
The Gstaad Menuhin Festival presented more than 60 concerts over six weeks in the Swiss Alps during the summer of 2024. Laurence Vittes sampled some of the best of its strings programming
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Rachel Barton Pine: ‘What we’re doing today is the history of tomorrow’
As she turns 50, the American violinist Rachel Barton Pine speaks to Ariane Todes about her unwavering enthusiasm for discovering, and communicating, the artistic integrity in everything she does
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Musical service: String groups in the US military
Rita Fernandes hears from musicians in the United States Air Force, Army and Marine Corps and travels to Washington DC to discover the little-known world of string playing in the US military
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Session Report: violinist Fenella Humphreys and composer Adrian Sutton on a new violin concerto
Being diagnosed with an incurable cancer spurred on War Horse composer Adrian Sutton to write a new violin concerto for Fenella Humphreys. Michael White hears from both composer and soloist about recording the work
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Sentimental Work: Alexander Sitkovetsky on Bach’s ‘Double’ Violin Concerto
Bach’s ‘Double’ Violin Concerto in D minor BWV1043 has been a constant companion throughout the Russian–British violinist’s life, and played critical roles in his career
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‘The mechanical limits of the viola’ - From the archive: October 1924
The pseudonymous ‘Ike’ calls for a rethink of the orchestral layout, and describes an instrument resembling the ‘Parramon’ tenor viola of 1932 (see In Focus, September 2022)
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The DIY approach: Self-taught string playing
Can you teach yourself the violin? Violinist, teacher and author Celia Cobb believed it to be impossible – until a new book made her re-evaluate some of her assumptions
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‘Imagination is one of the most important things in music’ - Alexander Baillie’s life lessons
The British cellist on playing fundamentals and developing musicality
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Session Report: Cellist Matthew Barley on recording Light Stories
Cellist Matthew Barley’s album Light Stories was inspired by a life-changing incident he experienced as a teenager. He tells Charlotte Gardner how he put together its deeply personal narrative and recorded it in his home studio
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Postcard from Scotland: East Neuk Festival
Simon Thompson visits the picturesque East Neuk of Fife in Scotland, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a festival that attracts some of the best chamber musicians in Europe
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50 years of the Takács Quartet
As the Takács Quartet celebrates its 50th birthday, its members talk to Pauline Harding about the ensemble’s legacy, the intangible ‘fifth spirit’ that has shaped its character even as its players have changed over the decades, and the importance of teaching and other projects and challenges
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Régis Pasquier: the complete violinist
Now nearing his ninth decade, the great French violinist Régis Pasquier has enjoyed a dazzlingly varied 65-year career taking in everything from core repertoire to contemporary music to jazz. He shares some of his memories over tea in Paris with Jessica Duchen
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‘He has brushed aside all the absurd habits’- From the archive: September 1934
Violinist and conductor Henri Temianka gives some thoughts on the teaching style of his former tutor Carl Flesch, on the occasion of the latter’s 60th birthday
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Sentimental Work: Raphaël Merlin on Charles Mingus’s Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
The Charles Mingus jazz standard Goodbye Pork Pie Hat has become the cellist’s own farewell to the Ébène Quartet after more than two decades performing together
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‘Get to the core of why you want to share music’ - Daniel Müller-Schott’s life lessons
The German cellist reminisces on his soloistic journey and finding purpose
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Opinion: What makes a good stand partner?
It takes much more than turning up on time and playing the right notes to be a reliable stand partner, says violinist Alexandra Gorski. There are many essential rules to be followed
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Mother tongues: Global Suzuki Method
How can the Suzuki Method be relevant in places where children might never have heard of Twinkle? Peter Somerford speaks to teachers who have adapted their approach to cultures with their own strong musical traditions, or with differing expectations of parental involvement
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Session Report: Emily Sun on recording the Korngold and Kats-Chernin violin concertos
Australian violinist Emily Sun speaks to Jessica Duchen about channelling the golden-age tenor Caruso in her recording of Korngold’s filmic Violin Concerto, which she has paired with Elena Kats-Chernin’s own movie-inspired new work
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Violinist Ray Chen: Making the connection
Global violinist Ray Chen’s mission is to connect people through music. He speaks to Amanda Holloway about his work both on and off the concert platform – through his Tonic practice app, his social media presence and his new album