All Features articles – Page 12
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Premium ❘ FeatureLuigi Cavallini: A maker in the rough
Tuscany in the 19th century was home to numerous luthiers, some of whom were carpenters who turned their hands to instrument making. Florian Leonhard examines the career of Luigi Cavallini, a lesser-known self-taught maker whose work, while unusual in parts, displays a surprisingly high level of craftsmanship
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Premium ❘ FeatureTwo Shapiros: musical doubles
Though unrelated by birth, US violinists Eudice Shapiro and Frances Shapiro (later Magnes) forged parallel careers which provide a fascinating insight into the lives of female musicians during the mid-20th century, writes Tully Potter
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Premium ❘ FeatureEarly lutherie experience: The journeyman years
The time spent between finishing at violin making school and striking out on your own can be critical to a luthier’s learning experience. Peter Somerford finds out what makers should expect from their first jobs in a workshop – and how they can make the most of their time
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Premium ❘ FeatureLeonidas Kavakos: Deep thinker
For Leonidas Kavakos, recording Bach’s Solo Sonatas and Partitas has been the culmination of a 30‑year artistic journey and, as the violinist tells Charlotte Smith, the works have a pertinent message for our troubled times
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Premium ❘ FeatureColeridge-Taylor violin and chamber music: From fame to footnote
Despite his prolific output, the works of British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor have been performed relatively infrequently in the century following his death. Tatjana Goldberg explores his chamber and violin music, particularly the Violin Concerto, and his fruitful artistic partnership with pioneering US violinist Maud Powell
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: Landscape of shadows
Cellist Laura van der Heijden talks to Tom Stewart about the subtle, often other-worldly atmosphere inhabited by Czech and Hungarian music in her new recording with pianist Jâms Coleman
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Premium ❘ FeatureConductorless orchestras: The leading edge
For those ensembles willing to take the plunge, performing without a conductor can lead to a greater sense of collaboration, fulfilment and, ultimately, responsibility. Jacqueline Vanasse hears from some of the string players involved in such groups
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FocusVuillaume’s ‘Alard’ bows: Small but beautiful
In the extensive literature concerning Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, there is very little about one of his more remarkable innovations: a refinement of the bow frog design that can be seen on many examples from his workshop. Michel Samson explains how the so-called ‘Alard’ bow was designed to make life easier for ...
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Premium ❘ FeatureThéotime Langlois de Swarte: Dramatic flair
French Baroque violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte has released four albums in a little over a year. He shares with Charlotte Gardner the origins of his dream of uncovering the works of long-forgotten composers – and how that project has come to fruition
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Premium ❘ FeatureArco project: Evolution of a partnership
Six years ago, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire head of strings Louise Lansdown established a partnership with a music centre in Soweto to launch the Arco project, providing in-person and online lessons for South African string students. Here she reflects on the importance of the scheme and on how it has developed
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: Good as new
The second album from the United Strings of Europe features original arrangements of existing works by artistic director Julian Azkoul – but more than this, the works are thematically linked by transformation and loss, as he tells Toby Deller
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Premium ❘ FeatureCremonese violin moulds: The well harmonised mould
The logic governing the structure of Stradivari’s violins remains a mystery. André Theunis and Alexandre Wajnberg take a fresh look at his moulds to find an intriguing system of proportions, utilising the tools and measuring systems of his day
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Premium ❘ FeaturePierre Baillot: Against the odds
Pierre Baillot battled against financial hardship and suffered personal tragedy, yet he became a leading exponent of the 19th-century French violin school. Martin Wulfhorst reveals his importance as an instrumentalist, pedagogue and composer
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Premium ❘ FeatureSteven Isserlis: Instinctive performer
Steven Isserlis used the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 to work on a trio of projects: a companion to Bach’s Cello Suites, a new performing edition of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto and a recording of British solo cello music – as the cellist tells Charlotte Smith
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Premium ❘ FeatureAlexander technique: Thoughts that count
Violinist and Alexander technique specialist Alun Thomas details pathways to effortless expression using three real-life student examples
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: Focusing the lens
For the LGT Young Soloists, recording a newly commissioned string symphony by Philip Glass provided ample opportunity for detailed and thoughtful music making – as the group’s artistic director, Alexander Gilman, tells Toby Deller
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Premium ❘ FeatureCovid-19 and young musicians: What you make of it
The lockdowns of the pandemic were particularly challenging for young artists looking to make a name for themselves, but providing support along the way were a number of schemes that ramped up their efforts accordingly. And, as Charlotte Gardner finds, for those musicians willing to take the initiative, the opportunities ...
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe 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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Premium ❘ FeatureWood 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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Premium ❘ FeatureAbel 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
