The Strad’s editor Emma Baker introduces the January 2025 issue, which celebrates legendary cellist Jacqueline Du Pré’s 80th birthday
Jacqueline du Pré would have turned 80 on 26 January 2025, and in a parallel universe, this icon of the cello might still have been with us. There are many great string players, past and present, who were or are still performing, teaching or conducting in their ninth decade, or simply enjoying a well-earned retirement. How might du Pré have developed as a musician and pedagogue? But, as we know through her often-told history, she had a short, dazzling career amounting to just twelve years, cut short by multiple sclerosis.
From speaking to contemporary string players who still feel her influence, it’s clear why the memory of du Pré’s musicianship endures: because of her potent, direct powers of expression, aided by a physically strong, effortless-sounding technique that made everything seem possible. We are lucky that her performances have been preserved on many recordings and films.
Our cover features a previously unseen photo from the archives of the du Pré family: Jacqueline’s brother Piers du Pré and sister Hilary Finzi. Hilary has also written a family history exploring the origins of Jacqueline’s genius and the women that made it possible – not only their mother Iris but also her mother before her: ‘Granny’ Maud Greep. Heartfelt thanks, too, to Piers and Hilary for sharing some of their personal family photographs.
We also explore another family relationship this January – that of a modern-day Danish cellist, Tobias van der Pals, and his Swedish great-great-uncle, Leopold van der Pals. Twenty-five years ago, when Tobias was a music student, he discovered that his forebear composed a huge body of first-rate music, which is now more generally being rediscovered, performed and recorded. Andrew Mellor speaks to him on.
Among our lutherie features this issue, wood physicist Martina Meincken looks at the potential of using indigenous southern African wood species for tonewood, with some interesting analysis of the resulting sound quality. And finally, Balthazar Soulier delves further into the history of the 18th-century ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin, which he first explored in the September 2024 issue.
Emma Baker editor
Email me at thestrad@thestrad.com or tweet @TheStradMag
Issue summary
We celebrate the life of cellist Jacqueline du Pré on what would have been her 80th birthday. There’s a look at tonewoods from South Africa, how to rectify wolf tones, and Daniel Hope reveals his Life Lessons. Plus Paul Huang gives a Masterclass on Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.
Contents
JACQUELINE DU PRÉ TRIBUTE To mark what would have been the British cellist’s 80th birthday, we hear from friends, students and soloists who have taken inspiration from her work
DU PRÉ FAMILY HISTORY The cellist’s sister Hilary Finzi looks back at Jacqueline’s formative influences, telling the inspirational stories of her grandmother Maud and mother Iris
‘PADEREWSKI, WENDLING’ VIOLIN – PART TWO Using CT scans, Balthazar Soulier examines the instrument that was mainly made by Montagnana but has a replacement top plate by Guarneri ‘del Gesù’
SESSION REPORT British violinist Davina Clarke talks to Harry White about her latest recording, which explores Bach’s cantatas via the relationship between voice and instrument
LEOPOLD VAN DER PALS Andrew Mellor meets the Scandinavian composer’s great-great-nephew, cellist Tobias van der Pals, who has been preserving the musical legacy of his forebear
SOUTH AFRICAN TONEWOOD How might woods such as yellowwood and hardpear fare as tonewood for instruments? Martina Meincken reports on an experiment in South Africa
IN FOCUS Alberto Giordano examines a 1937 violin by Genoese maker Giuseppe Castagnino
TRADE SECRETS Double bass maker Matthew Tucker’s method for strengthening a bass back
MY SPACE Turkish luthier Dinçay Gülenç
MAKING MATTERS Dealing with a wolf note
MASTERCLASS Paul Huang on the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto
TECHNIQUE Violinist Emily Sun hands on some hints and tips on projection
LIFE LESSONS The memories and opinions of British violinist Daniel Hope
OPINION Why live music will never be redundant, even with the rise of AI
POSTCARD FROM LESBOS A report from the Molyvos International Music Festival
FROM THE ARCHIVE From January 1895
SENTIMENTAL WORK Cellist Anne Gastinel on Dutilleux’s 3 Strophes sur le nom de Sacher
The number one source for playing and teaching books, guides, CDs, calendars and back issues of the magazine.
In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.
The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.
The Canada Council of the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank is 40 years old in 2025. This year’s calendar celebrates some its treasures, including four instruments by Antonio Stradivari and priceless works by Montagnana, Gagliano, Pressenda and David Tecchler.
No comments yet