All Editors pick articles – Page 4
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FeatureMatched quartets: a dream commission?
What does a string quartet look for when commissioning a matching set of instruments, and how do luthiers go about fulfilling such a project?
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FocusA method for viola-playing, according to Karen Tuttle
Violists, particularly in the US, regard Karen Tuttle as a pioneer of pedagogy. As this month marks the 100th anniversary of her birth, Carlos María Solare outlines some of her ideas on playing the viola
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FeatureHow to replace a quartet member, by the Ébène Quartet
In conversation with Charlotte Gardner, the French players discuss group chemistry and reveal how they have retained their sound with their newest member, violist Marie Chilemme
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ArticleAn almost perfect success story: the evolution of Vuillaume
Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume was the most successful French luthier of his time, but the first years of his career remain shrouded in mystery. Jonathan Marolle examines some of his earliest instruments to uncover the evolution of his technique and style
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ArticleOn the question of retirement: string players of all ages share their views
Is there a time when we should put our instruments away for good? Pauline Harding talks to musicians young and old about falling standards, failing physiques and a joy of playing music that, if we want it to, should carry us to our graves
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ArticleUrtext editions - friend or foe?
Are urtext editions the only legitimate way to access the composer’s musical intentions? Do edited editions inevitably distort the authentic creative voice?
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ArticleThe alchemy of the madder root
Madder root has been used since ancient times to create a deep red pigment – but the making process remains enigmatic
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FeatureSarah Chang on the limitations of the concerto circuit
The violinist tells Strad editor Charlotte Smith about her growing desire to take on passion projects
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DebateAre conservatoires preparing young string players for the music world?
Violinist and professor Rodney Friend argues that music colleges are admitting too many students in the first place
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FeatureAre masterclasses an essential part of a musician’s training?
Are they more likely to inspire or confuse? Teachers from around the world give their opinions
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Russian violin school is largely misunderstood
Igor Bezrodnyi, violinist, teacher and conductor, interviewed for The Strad shortly before his death in 1998
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DebateInvestors should loan prized stringed instruments to top players
Rather than storing instruments in a vault, investors must allow them to be played, for the benefit of owner and musician alike, wrote Jonathan Moulds in 2014
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NewsObituary: Period cello pioneer Anner Bylsma, 1934-2019
The Dutch cellist, whose 1979 recording of the Bach Suites on gut strings was hugely influential, has died at 85
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FeatureJulia Fischer and Vadim Gluzman on Shostakovich's violin sonata
Fifty years ago, David Oistrakh premiered Shostakovich’s violin sonata. Here Andrew Morris discusses the work with Julia Fischer and Vadim Gluzman
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FocusShould string teachers use fingerboard stickers for beginners?
Three string teachers debate the age-old question: should stickers be used on the fingerboard when teaching a beginner pupil?
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DebateVirtual reality: tool for audience engagement or passing fad?
Orchestras across the globe have been experimenting with enhancing the audience’s musical experience. What are the potential applications for VR technology, asks Peter Somerford
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FocusPaul Rolland's tension-free philosophy
Pioneering pedagogue Paul Rolland formulated a groundbreaking approach to string teaching through his University of Illinois String Research Project in the late 1960s. Charlotte Smith investigates the legacy of his findings, 40 years after his death
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Focus'My father hated competitions': David Stern at the Shanghai Isaac Stern Competition
David Stern, joint chair of the Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition – currently in its final round – tells The Strad about protecting his father’s legacy and enforcing ‘radical clarity’ on the jury
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FocusDo different rosin brands actually perform differently? We put 7 to the test
The Strad’s editor Charlotte Smith and contributing editor Pauline Harding put seven rosins to the test and discover a world of difference between brand and type
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FocusPickup or microphone? Choosing what's right for your bowed string instrument
With such a variety of electronic pickups, microphones and now hybrid systems on the market, finding the perfect amplification solution isn’t always easy. Kimon Daltas considers the options
