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The Strad’s editor Emma Baker introduces the February 2025 issue, which presents the ever-evolving Attacca Quartet
As we move into the second quarter of the 21st century, we celebrate a string quartet that has been going almost as long – the Attacca Quartet, whose original members first met at Juilliard in 2003. In the intervening years the US-based group has become one of the most distinctive voices among modern string quartets and is the ensemble of choice for many contemporary composers – including Caroline Shaw and Paul Wiancko – as a conduit for their new works.
The Attacca has also won two Grammy awards, and now, as they tell George Grella, the foursome are coming full circle with their new album, which features Ravel’s String Quartet in F major as its centrepiece – a formative work in the quartet’s own development, as well as an apt choice for the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth.
We celebrate two more 150th anniversaries in this issue, one being that of the great violin virtuoso Fritz Kreisler, who was born on 2 February 1875. He remains a hero to so many players and aficionados, and on Ariane Todes imagines the questions she might ask him about his life, work and opinions if she could meet him at a fantasy dinner party.
Kreisler is also the hero of a great modern-day violinist, Nigel Kennedy, who shares his typically robust but also thoughtful and articulate opinions with Harry White. Kennedy has always had a love for improvisation, a skill that he believes every string player should explore in the pursuit of becoming a more rounded musician, but more recently he’s taken a leaf out of Kreisler’s book and joined the ranks of violinist–composers, having just published a new volume of his own original pieces.
Our third 150th anniversary this issue is an important one for the art of French bow making – the invention of the swan-head bow by Charles Nicolas Bazin. Richard Morency traces the history of this graceful model and takes a close look at some of the finest examples.
Emma Baker editor
Email me at thestrad@thestrad.com or tweet @TheStradMag
Issue summary
We talk to the members of the Attacca Quartet, while Nigel Kennedy discusses his latest foray into composition. There’s a look at the work of Polish luthier Ladislaus Baczyński and the bows of Charles Nicolas Bazin. Plus David Finckel’s views on teaching chamber music and Glenn Dicterow’s Sentimental Work.
Contents
ATTACCA QUARTET The members of the US-based foursome tell George Grella about their formative years, inspirations and their latest recording of Ravel’s String Quartet in F major
WŁADYSŁAW BACZYŃSKI Once called the ‘Polish Stradivari’, the well-regarded luthier (1866–1935) made almost 300 instruments in his career. Grzegorz Kaproń examines his life and work
NIGEL KENNEDY The iconoclastic British violinist has recently published his first book of compositions, Songs My Mother Never Taught Me, as he tells Harry White
SESSION REPORT Violist Timothy Ridout talks to Davina Shum about his latest album of solo works by composers as varied as Bach, Britten and Caroline Shaw
BAZIN BOWS Richard Morency examines the output of the highly productive workshop of Charles Nicolas Bazin (1847–1915), along with the various models they used
FRITZ KREISLER Ariane Todes marks the 150th anniversary of the virtuoso violinist’s birth by imagining conversations with him as a fantasy dinner party guest
IN FOCUS René Zaal examines an 1877 double bass from Gand & Bernardel of Paris
TRADE SECRETS The ‘Doratura’ Cremonese method of preparing and applying the ground
MY SPACE Russell Stowe of Woodbridge, UK
MAKING MATTERS Oliver Radke looks at the treatment of wood using ultra-low temperatures
MASTERCLASS Carrie Bean Stute discusses the first movement of Ravel’s Piano Trio in A minor
TECHNIQUE Jeanne-Louise Moolman hands on tips relating to sound production on the viola
LIFE LESSONS The memories and opinions of German cellist Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt
OPINION David Finckel gives his thoughts on why chamber music must be carefully taught
POSTCARD FROM BUCHAREST Report from the 2024 Enescu International Competition
FROM THE ARCHIVE From February 1905
SENTIMENTAL WORK Glenn Dicterow on Bernstein’s Serenade after Plato’s ‘Symposium’
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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.
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