All Premium ❘ Feature articles
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Premium ❘ FeatureHistorical lutherie methods: Salts of wisdom
Remy Gug examines the treatment of wood described in several manuals of the 16th to 18th centuries, in this article from July 1987
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Double Bassist magazine: Matteo Goffriller c.1708 bass
Barrie Kolstein marvels at a magnificent 18th-century instrument by Matteo Goffriller, in this feature from the Autumn 2001 issue of our now-discontinued sister publication, Double Bassist
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Double Bassist magazine: Nights in the gardens of Spain
Without the arrival of the Neapolitan double bass players at the beginning of the 18th century, the history of the bass in Spain may have been quite different. Xosé Crisanto Gandara examines the evidence, in this article taken from the Spring 2001 issue of our now-discontinued sister publication, Double Bassist
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Double Bassist magazine: The Master’s Voice - Bottesini's bass
Made in 1716 by Carlo Antonio Testore, this stylish double bass was once the companion of Giovanni Bottesini. Stefan Krattenmacher examines the instrument and its history, in this Summer 2000 article from our now-discontinued sister publication, Double Bassist
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Double bassist Thomas Martin: Man for all seasons
Thomas Martin has tried practically every hat, from orchestra principal to soloist, teacher and instrument maker. Katinka Welz meets the eclectic bass personality in this article taken from the Winter 2000 issue of our now-discontinued sister publication, Double Bassist
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Wood treatment: Choosing resonant wood
Rémy Gug examines a method of selecting wood for making instruments. From January 1991
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Trade secrets: Wood ponding
Minnesota-based luthier David Folland reveals his procedure for treating the raw material for stringed instruments. From February 2015
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Viola excerpts: Tricky corners
In July 1999 Charles Noble tried to ease the trauma of facing orchestra auditions; in the August 1999 issue he introduces the extracts every violist should know
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Auditioning advice: Position vacant
Looking for that all-important orchestral job? Oregon Symphony violist Charles Noble provides some tips on how to impress the audition panel, in the first of two articles from July 1999
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Performance anxiety: Fighting stage demons
How often has a potential performance of a lifetime turned into a performance from hell? Are you suffering from from stage fright? Laurinel Owen gives advice overcoming this common affliction, from the December 1996 issue
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Lutherie in the US: An American Dream
Violin making in the US was built on the aspirations of a few woodworkers with talent – and in two centuries it has evolved into a multimillion-dollar industry. Ahead of the publication of a new book, The American Violin, co-author Philip Kass traces the advancement of American lutherie and shows ...
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The Venetian double bass: Venetian splendour
Many of the great Italian double bass makers lived and worked in the city of Venice. Thomas Martin, George Martin and Martin Lawrence tell the stories of some of the leading names in the trade, with commentary on a number of their instruments
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Bottesini’s 200th anniversary: The world at his feet
Known principally as a revolutionary double bassist, Giovanni Bottesini was also a prolific composer and conductor. In celebration of his 200th birthday, Stephen Street looks at the life and career of a remarkable artist – and introduces us to his catalogue of works
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Wood treatment: The magic touch
New research has revealed how Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ all used tonewood that had been heavily treated with chemicals prior to carving. Wenjie Cai and Hwan-Ching Tai explain the study’s findings, and suggest it could indicate that the Cremonese makers were influenced by the contemporary alchemical beliefs
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Abel Selaocoe: Uniting voice
South African cellist-singer-composer Abel Selaocoe’s genre-defying performances have earned him several recent awards and a recording contract with Warner Classics. Tom Stewart meets the Manchester-based musician following his powerful BBC Proms 2021 debut
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Heifetz as teacher: Words from the master
Ayke Agus served as Heifetz’s personal accompanist during classes and performances for the last 15 years of his life. Here, she shares recollections of his practice routine and teaching methods with Enrico Alvares
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In Focus: An 1807 violin by William Ferguson
David Rattray details an instrument by the Scottish maker
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Trade Secrets: Making an invisible neck graft
A procedure that takes a little longer than the standard method, but results in an almost undetectable fitting
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My Space: Jurgen Preyer
The Netherlands-based luthier built the workshop in my garden, soon after moving in
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Making Matters: The imitation game
In 1927 a cache of documents came to light, purportedly from the Stradivari workshop – and fooled some of the leading experts of the day. Carlo Chiesa explains how the case turned out to be an elaborate forgery
