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My Space: Corvus Kwok’s Hong Kong workshop
The luthier takes us on a tour of his shop in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Making Matters: Testing an instrument’s sound using weight ratios
In contrast to the normal practice of using tap tones to determine an instrument’s sound, Veikko Jaatinen presents a method based on the weight ratios of a violin’s various parts
‘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)
Playing Hub
‘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)
Preparing a National Youth Orchestra audition: violinist Sakura Fish
Violinist Sakura Fish shares her top tips for preparing for an audition, as well as other ways to get involved with the NYO
Cello Notes: Music and the Urgency of Time by adult cello learner, Mavis Himes
Psychoanalyst Mavis Himes presents an excerpt from her memoir, which explores her musical journey of learning the cello later in life
Thriller night: improvising scores for silent cinema on the viola
In anticipation of his tour playing in UK cinemas, violist and filmmaker Hugo Max reflects on his unique process of improvising live soundtracks for silent horror movies on solo viola
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
‘Imagination is one of the most important things in music’ - Alexander Baillie’s life lessons
The British cellist on playing fundamentals and developing musicality
Premium ❘ Feature
My Space: Corvus Kwok’s Hong Kong workshop
The luthier takes us on a tour of his shop in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Premium ❘ Feature
Making Matters: Testing an instrument’s sound using weight ratios
In contrast to the normal practice of using tap tones to determine an instrument’s sound, Veikko Jaatinen presents a method based on the weight ratios of a violin’s various parts
Premium ❘ Feature
My Space: Corvus Kwok’s Hong Kong workshop
The luthier takes us on a tour of his shop in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Premium ❘ Focus
‘Imagination is one of the most important things in music’ - Alexander Baillie’s life lessons
The British cellist on playing fundamentals and developing musicality
Premium ❘ Focus
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
Competitions
Karol Lipiński Violin Competition names winners
South Korean violinist Sunjae Ok scooped the top prize of €15,000
Finalists announced for the Karol Lipiński Violin Competition
Six violinists will progress to the third and final stage of this year’s competition, which will be held on 4 and 5 October
Semi-finalists announced at the International Karol Lipiński Violin Competition
Twelve violinists will proceed to the competition’s second round
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Kebra-Seyoun Charles’s new bass concerto
A New York-inspired bass concerto brings together varying dance forms
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: October 2024
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Masterclass: Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on viola, first movement
Yuri Zhislin illustrates the importance of colour and harmony in a work renowned for its lyricism and technicality
Masterclass: Mendelssohn String Quartet in F minor, first movement
Second violinist of the Aris Quartet Noémi Zipperling examines Mendelssohn’s emotionally charged movement, considered to be a requiem for his sister and, ultimately, himself
Masterclass: Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on viola, first movement
Yuri Zhislin illustrates the importance of colour and harmony in a work renowned for its lyricism and technicality
Masterclass: Mendelssohn String Quartet in F minor, first movement
Second violinist of the Aris Quartet Noémi Zipperling examines Mendelssohn’s emotionally charged movement, considered to be a requiem for his sister and, ultimately, himself
Masterclass: Debussy Cello Sonata, second and third movements
Cellist Thomas Demenga reflects on the importance of restraint next to the extremes of expressive detail to be brought out in this masterpiece
The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw
The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher
The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang
The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet
‘We should live in a chamber music world’ - the violinist speaks about the importance of collaboration inside and outside of the practice room, in the second episode of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen
The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star
The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw
The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher
The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang
The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet
‘We should live in a chamber music world’ - the violinist speaks about the importance of collaboration inside and outside of the practice room, in the second episode of our four-part education-themed podcast series
Competitions
Karol Lipiński Violin Competition names winners
South Korean violinist Sunjae Ok scooped the top prize of €15,000
Finalists announced for the Karol Lipiński Violin Competition
Six violinists will progress to the third and final stage of this year’s competition, which will be held on 4 and 5 October
Semi-finalists announced at the International Karol Lipiński Violin Competition
Twelve violinists will proceed to the competition’s second round
Two violins are better than one: Candida Thompson, Simone Lamsma and Amsterdam Sinfonietta perform Bach
‘One Zero Six Zero’ showcases a version of Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe BWV 1060r for two violins
Two violins are better than one: Candida Thompson, Simone Lamsma and Amsterdam Sinfonietta perform Bach
‘Rare instruments, greed and brutal murder’: New documentary about the murders of a luthier and his daughter
Grieg Cello Sonata… on double bass!
Video: 15 Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violins in less than 4 minutes
Video: First violin performance in space
Violinist Emily Sun performs John Williams’s Theme from Schindler’s List
Michael Rieber plays Franck Sonata on double bass
Sheku Kanneh-Mason in the spotlight at the Lucerne Festival
A Tango performance from the Apollo Chamber Players
Documentary: 100 years of Ravel’s Tzigane
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My Space: Corvus Kwok’s Hong Kong workshop
The luthier takes us on a tour of his shop in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Making Matters: Testing an instrument’s sound using weight ratios
In contrast to the normal practice of using tap tones to determine an instrument’s sound, Veikko Jaatinen presents a method based on the weight ratios of a violin’s various parts
Why I rotate between seven bows: cellist David Finckel
From 19th-century French bows to modern carbon fibre, David Finckel outlines why each of his seven bows has a time and place in his music making
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1715 Domenico Montagnana violin
A rare example of a violin by the noted Venetian maker of cellos, it has a two-piece back of irregular figure
In Focus: A c.1750 violin by Michele Deconet
Peter Koerner examines the French maker’s mid-century instrument
One gold medal awarded at 2024 Cremona Triennale violin making competition
Alessandro Peiretti received the award in the cello category, while Liu Zhaojun, Borja Bernabeu and Michele Dobner all received silver medals
My Space: Corvus Kwok’s Hong Kong workshop
The luthier takes us on a tour of his shop in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Making Matters: Testing an instrument’s sound using weight ratios
In contrast to the normal practice of using tap tones to determine an instrument’s sound, Veikko Jaatinen presents a method based on the weight ratios of a violin’s various parts
Why I rotate between seven bows: cellist David Finckel
From 19th-century French bows to modern carbon fibre, David Finckel outlines why each of his seven bows has a time and place in his music making
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1715 Domenico Montagnana violin
A rare example of a violin by the noted Venetian maker of cellos, it has a two-piece back of irregular figure
In Focus: A c.1750 violin by Michele Deconet
Peter Koerner examines the French maker’s mid-century instrument
One gold medal awarded at 2024 Cremona Triennale violin making competition
Alessandro Peiretti received the award in the cello category, while Liu Zhaojun, Borja Bernabeu and Michele Dobner all received silver medals
Concert review: Pacifica Quartet masterclass and concert
Bruce Hodges attends the performance of Shostakovich and Beethoven as part of the Bowdoin Festival at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 1 July 2024
Review: Alexi Kenney masterclass
Bruce Hodges watches the violinist’s workshop on at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 9 July 2024 as part of the Bowdoin Festival
Review: Miriam Fried masterclass
Bruce Hodges hears some words of wisdom from the veteran violin tutor at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 17 July as part of the 2024 Bowdoin Festival
Henrik Dam Thomsen: Bach
No lack of personality in these fine modern-instrument accounts
Isolde Menges: works by Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Schubert, Vaughan Williams et al
A great British violinist is celebrated in fitting style
Calidore Quartet: Beethoven
A second volume of quartets impresses with its drama
Book review: Thumb Position
Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time
Book review: A Survey of Solo Works for the Violoncello
Janet Banks reviews cello professor Brian Hodges’ volume on cello repertoire from the 17th century to the present day
Book review: The Instrumentalist
Anne Inglis reviews Harriet Constable’s fictionalised account of the life of violinist Anna Maria della Pietà, protégé of Vivaldi
Debate
Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners
Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste
Opinion: Avoid overloading students with information
Double bassist Alex Ferkey believes that young string players are often derailed by information overload, and should trust more in unconscious processes when trying to perfect their technique
Debate
Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners
Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste
Accessories
Products October 2024: Müsing L Series violin bow
A new bow combines characteristics of the company’s existing ranges
Products October 2024: BAM Cabourg Hightech case
A new pattern for an existing range
Products October 2024: Hidersine Andante strings
A new string range with options for violin, viola and cello
Concert review: Pacifica Quartet masterclass and concert
Bruce Hodges attends the performance of Shostakovich and Beethoven as part of the Bowdoin Festival at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 1 July 2024
Review: Alexi Kenney masterclass
Bruce Hodges watches the violinist’s workshop on at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 9 July 2024 as part of the Bowdoin Festival
Review: Miriam Fried masterclass
Bruce Hodges hears some words of wisdom from the veteran violin tutor at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 17 July as part of the 2024 Bowdoin Festival
Book review: Thumb Position
Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time
Book review: A Survey of Solo Works for the Violoncello
Janet Banks reviews cello professor Brian Hodges’ volume on cello repertoire from the 17th century to the present day
Book review: The Instrumentalist
Anne Inglis reviews Harriet Constable’s fictionalised account of the life of violinist Anna Maria della Pietà, protégé of Vivaldi
Henrik Dam Thomsen: Bach
No lack of personality in these fine modern-instrument accounts
Isolde Menges: works by Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Schubert, Vaughan Williams et al
A great British violinist is celebrated in fitting style
Calidore Quartet: Beethoven
A second volume of quartets impresses with its drama
Artists
Julia Hagen makes her Vienna Philharmonic debut at the Lucerne Festival
US correspondent Thomas May interviews cellist Julia Hagen, winner of the 2024 UBS Young Artist Award, on the eve of her breakthrough debut with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Lucerne Festival
Great string players of the past: violinist Ivry Gitlis on George Enescu
Ivry Gitlis’s lessons with George Enescu focused purely on the music. From October 2013
Augustin Hadelich on his new album, ‘American Road Trip’
The violinist answers The Strad’s questions on America’s cornucopia of musical styles, evident in his upcoming album comprising works by composers ranging from Bernstein to Adams, to Coleridge-Taylor and Beach
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