For Subscribers

'Your own voice must be in charge': Creating an improvised violin concerto

2024-03-20T11:31:18.667

Tilde Døssing Tornbjerg2

Can a new work encourage young, classically trained string players to lose their fear of improvisation and find their individual voice? Violinist Christina Åstrand and composer Signe Lykke explain the concept to Andrew Mellor

Two years ago, Christina Åstrand, first concertmaster of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra (DNSO), got a call from the composer Signe Lykke. The two were acquaintances: Åstrand had played a solo piece by Lykke; Lykke was aware of Åstrand from her central position in Danish musical life (‘I knew her as the silver-haired woman who sits at the front of the radio orchestra’)…

Already subscribed? Please sign in

Subscribe to continue reading…

We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website. For a limited period, you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge.

  • Free 7-day trial

    Not sure about subscribing? Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content, including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days.

    Free trial

    No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details

  • Subscribe 

    No more paywalls. To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues, upgrade to a subscription now. You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010.

    Subscribe

 

* Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions. Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions.