All Premium ❘ Feature articles – Page 8
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Premium ❘ FeatureHistory is now
Growing numbers of young musicians are incorporating elements of historically informed performance into their playing. Charlotte Gardner investigates the reasons behind this phenomenon, explores the options for aspiring period artists and receives advice from both fledgling and long-standing practitioners
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Life out of balance
While many luthiers are happy making stringed instruments to the standard form, others are keen to explore the possibilities of alternative patterns. Peter Somerford discovers how asymmetric designs can affect tone quality, projection, acoustics and player comfort
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Session Report: Christian Tetzlaff on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto
At the end of last year violinist Christian Tetzlaff made his second official recording of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in two live performances, resulting in an interpretation much more in keeping with his own personal understanding of the work
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An unexpected twist
The few remaining guitars by Antonio Stradivari have distinctive characteristics – which proved useful when another example came to light recently in a museum collection. Emiliano Marinucci and Lorenzo Frignani tell the story
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The Jewel of Taiwan: The Strad Calendar 2020
The Chimei Museum in Taiwan houses the largest collection of stringed instruments in the world.The Strad Calendar 2020 marks 30 years since its founding, as Dai-Ting Chung and Andrew Guan highlight some of the remarkable treasures within its walls
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Making Matters: Shaping the head
Violin makers have always been aware of physical issues like repetitive strain injury – but it’s just as important to take care of their mental health and wellbeing. John Beames examines some of the most common problems, and suggests some ways to combat them
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Masterclass: Esther Yoo on Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto Third Movement
Esther Yoo imagines a ballroom of swirling summer dancers and secret trysts as she talks through the sparkling third movement of this magical work
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Technique: the importance of practising in 5ths
How the ability to play in perfect 5ths can help you to hone your position, intonation and vibrato
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Should violin makers embrace cutting edge computer analysis?
Violin maker Sam Zygmuntowicz explores how high-tech ways of analysing violins and their sound could help makers and even influence the future forms of instruments
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From the Archive: October 1959
Violin teacher Noel Hale introduces Kató Havas’s New Approach to the world. This article prompted a huge correspondence in The Strad , reproduced in Havas’s 1968 autobiography
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Leonidas Kavakos: Social Harmony
Violinist Leonidas Kavakos this year presented his eighth Musical Horizons Conservatory masterclass series. Toby Deller attended the three-day event in Athens, during which Kavakos proved himself to be not only an intelligent and dedicated teacher, but also an advocate of social cohesion and personal responsibility through music
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In focus: a c.1930 violin by Ignacio Fleta
Jordi Pinto examines an instrument by the important Spanish maker
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How to develop left-hand finger strength
Up and down movement is the basis of left-hand technique and many pedagogues have invented fiendish exercises to improve it. Rok Klopčič takes a look at some of them
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Leon Bosch: Irrepressible Drive
South African-born double bassist Leon Bosch has held top orchestral posts and performed as a soloist on multiple international stages since arriving in the UK in 1982. But, as he tells Kimon Daltas , now is not the time to rest on his laurels, as new works and new challenges ...
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In focus: a 1626 cello by Andrea Guarneri
Julian Hersh examines an instrument from one of the most important families of Italian violin makers
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Trade Secrets: Making a Tourte-style eye
How to use gold, tortoiseshell and abalone in copies of works by the ‘father of the modern bow’
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Making Matters: Keep the wolf from the door
Joseph Curtin describes a quick and simple method for violinists to eliminate a wolf tone on their instrument, along with the science behind it
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Northern double bass makers: Northern lights
The 19th century witnessed a thriving double bass making scene in the Manchester area of England. This northern school, which had its own distinct style points, flourished for a longer time than its southern counterpart, as Thomas Martin, Martin Lawrence and George Martin explain
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Masterclass: Johannes Moser on Mendelssohn’s Cello Sonata no.2
Johannes Moser takes a look at tempo, dynamics and the relationship between instruments in the exciting and energetic first movement of the D major op.58 Sonata
