All Premium ❘ Feature articles – Page 2
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Premium ❘ FeatureFrom the Archive: March 1940
Paganini researcher S. L. Salzedo gives his effusive first impressions of the violinist’s birthplace Genoa, as well as his initial thoughts on seeing ‘Il Cannone’
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Making a Full Quartet of Instruments: Matches Made in Heaven?
It’s both a privilege and a challenge to build a quartet of instruments that are intended to be played together from the start. Peter Somerford speaks to players and makers to discover both the pitfalls and the opportunities
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Pablo Casals: Boundless Expression
The legacy of Pablo Casals is alive and well in the cello playing of today – and can be traced primarily to the methods of his colleague Diran Alexanian and favourite student Maurice Eisenberg. Oskar Falta explores the Catalonian cellist’s main vibrato theories, as communicated by his two important ...
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Chinese Tonewoods: Interesting Times
For luthiers worldwide, European wood is still viewed as the best for making stringed instruments – even though China’s forests are filled with high-quality spruce and maple. Xue Peng presents the results of a study comparing the tonewoods of China and Europe, with some startling conclusions
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Session Report: Freedom of Choice
For Jack Liebeck, recording the Brahms and Schoenberg violin concertos has felt like a homecoming – a chance to reflect on the life of his grandfather, and to appreciate the liberties we enjoy today, as he tells Harry White
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William C. Honeyman: The People’s Violin Man
During the 19th century there was an upsurge of interest in violin playing in Britain. At its centre, writes Kevin MacDonald , was the Scottish violinist and writer William C. Honeyman – purveyor of string secrets to the masses and perhaps the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes
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Session Report: Violinist Johan Dalene makes his recording debut
For his debut album as an exclusive BIS artist, Johan Dalene – teenage winner of last year’s Carl Nielsen International Competition – has not shied away from ambitious and much-loved repertoire. He and producer Jens U. Braun recall the recording process
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Karen Tuttle: The Violists’ Champion
Violists, particularly in the US, regard Karen Tuttle as a pioneer of pedagogy, tirelessly committed to improving the playing freedom of her students. As this month marks the 100th anniversary of her birth, Carlos María Solare pays tribute to her career, teaching methods and formidable strength of character
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In Focus: an 1810 violin by Nicolas Lupot
John Dilworth examines an instrument by the French maker
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Trade Secrets: Notes on cello endpin fitting
A guide to veneer bushing and creating an ‘abrasive reamer’ for making adjustments
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Making Matters: The Sound of Science
Tom Croen reports on a 2019 experiment to discover how much variation in sound can be gained from fingerboard ‘tuning’ – and how alternative materials fare against traditional ebony
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Masterclass: Moray Welsh on Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata first movement
Moray Welsh looks at the cello version of the first movement, whose successful execution requires boundless musicality, lyricism and technical finesse
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Technique: A 30-minute routine to keep your playing on top form
Ideas to help violinists and violists maintain high technical and musical standards around a busy regime
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From the Archive: February 1930
In his regular ‘Continental Happenings’ column, the acerbic George Cecil rounds up some of the more unusual string-related news and performances around Europe
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In focus: a 1933 violin by Ansaldo Poggi
Roberto Regazzi examines an instrument by the Italian maker, whose fame and reputation have grown in recent years
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Universal Harmony: the ‘Four Circles’ system of violin making
Luthiers over the past three centuries have used a vast number of patterns for their instruments – but the basic geometric principles remain constant across them all. Kevin Kelly explains his ‘Four Circles’ system for instrument design, adaptable to violins, violas and cellos
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Digital Amati: project luthier
A decade ago, François Denis’s Traité de Lutherie showed how the old Italians used Euclidean geometry to design their instruments. Now a computer program based on these principles allows luthiers to construct and adapt patterns quickly and easily. Its creator, Harry Mairson, explains the genesis of Digital Amati
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Lloyd Swanton on the art of free improvisation
As double bassist of long-running Australian trio the Necks, Lloyd Swanton is an expert in group improvisation. He speaks to Andy Hamilton about his inspirations, maintaining creativity, and making contemporary improvised music accessible
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Smart learning: technology in the classroom
Advances in technology over the past few years have led to an explosion in apps and online platforms designed to aid instrumental teaching and practice. Peter Somerford looks at some of the most useful – but cautions that such tools should never be used to substitute rhythmic and aural skills ...
