Following Théotime Voisin’s guest article on the new bespoke work for double bass and piano, check out the full performance of Spicy Odyssey - a work that aims to take listeners on an exciting and epic musical journey.

The work is divided into seven sections:

- Chapter 1: Orbit and Discovery

- Chapter 2: The Peace of the Dream

- Chapter 3: The Sound of the Mind

- Chapter 4: Land of Subconscience

- Chapter 5: Scenery

- Chapter 6: Red Night

- Chapter 7: The Wobble of the World

’We became characters in this musical adventure; notes don’t even exist anymore, they become words, atmospheres, moods and noises,’ says Voisin. ’You completely forget that you are playing an instrument as you become instantly part of the story.’

Do you have a favourite ‘spicy’ piece for double bass and piano? Let us know in the comments below!

Best of Technique

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.

Masterclass

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.

Calendars

American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.