The Strad June 2019 issue is out now

Violins such as the 1679 ‘Hellier’ fit none of the master’s surviving forms. In the June 2019 issue of The Strad, Andrea Zanrè and Philip Ihle conclude their examination of Stradivari’s moulds, with the aid of micro-CT imaging by Rudolf Hopfner, by exploring whether the Cremonese master may have used more than the twelve forms that survive in the Museo del Violino.

Donald Weilerstein, Natasha Brofsky and Ali Kian Yazdanfar join us for a discussion about experimental teaching methods; in our Session Report we join violinist and conductor Thomas Zehetmair in the studio for the Orchestre d’Auvergne’s own-label recording of Haydn, Strauss and Bruckner; plus we learn about the renowned Czech pedagogue Ševčík’s female pupils, at least three of whom went on to star careers. We also include a report from the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition in Odense.

We examine bow chamfers through the ages, taking bows from the Baroque era to the present day to show how these small details of a bow head have changed with the times.

In our regular sections:

Our monthly Masterclass is from violist Philip Dukes on Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante; ellist Adriana Larosa Ransom on left-hand finger independence in Technique; cellist Matthew Barley tells us his Life Lessons; plus Vadim Gluzman on Pēteris Vasks’ Violin Concerto ‘Distant Light’ in Sentimental Work.

In Focus features a c.1870 viola by Carl Mettus Weis; Christopher Thorp’s method for making a mould and rib structure in Trade Secrets; My Space features the workshop French luthier Charlélie Dauriat; and in Making Matters with understand the function of the violin string between the peg and fingerboard nut.

We also bring you news of the latest competitions, products and auctions, and comprehensive reviews of concerts, CDs and books.

The digital magazine and print edition are on sale now, or click here to subscribe

The bumper 144-page digital edition includes both the June issue and Accessories 2019. Extras include:

• View more images of the revolutionary ‘Santa Cecilia’ violin that made waves in the lutherie world when it was unveiled in April
• A sneak preview of the Museo del Violino’s exhibition of instruments from the US National Music Museum, including instruments by Nicolò Amati and the Brothers Amati, plus a Stradivari guitar
• More highlights from the recent London auctions, including Gioffredo Cappa, Andrea Guarneri, Franz Geissenhof and a record-breaking Francesco Gofriller
• In Focus: extra photos of this month’s featured instrument, a viola by Danish luthier Carl Mettus Weis
• My Space: see round the 12th-century Château de Gourville, where luthier Charlélie Dauriat has based his workshop
• And as ever, clips from the three recordings garlanded with the coveted moniker ‘The Strad Recommends’