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New video: violinist Miranda Cuckson performs Scott Wollschleger’s ‘Secret Machine no.7’
The solo work features on Wollschleger’s upcoming portrait album of compositions
‘We must be aware of our choices’ - violinist Jennifer Koh’s life lessons
The US violinist on the importance of our decisions and promoting inclusivity
My tech set-up: violinist Rob Flax
In our Accessories 2024 supplement, the US eclectic violinist shares his go-to tech accessories
Playing Hub
‘We must be aware of our choices’ - violinist Jennifer Koh’s life lessons
The US violinist on the importance of our decisions and promoting inclusivity
My tech set-up: violinist Rob Flax
In our Accessories 2024 supplement, the US eclectic violinist shares his go-to tech accessories
Why you shouldn’t practise Suites and Partitas with a metronome: Ulrich Heinen
Playing movements from instrumental suites without flexibility of tempo would kill the spirit of imagined dance within the music, writes cellist Ulrich Heinen
Premiere of the Month: Nathalie Joachim’s new cello concerto for Seth Parker Woods
The Black dandyism fashion movement spawns a new cello concerto
Making a big noise: how Duo Shum is shaking up classical music
The cellist of Duo Shum, Lisa Strauss speaks about how the etymology of the word ‘Shum’ helps inspire the ensemble to champion the works of mistreated Slavic composers
My tech set-up: violinist Scott Tixier
In our Accessories 2024 supplement, the French jazz violinist shares his go-to tech accessories
Premium ❘ Feature
Three’s company: the rise of piano trios
Are piano trios having a sudden renaissance? Charlotte Gardner hears from industry professionals and from musicians who relish the repertoire offered by this flexible but underrated chamber grouping
Premium ❘ Feature
‘He was taking a very large elephant to America’ - From the archive: June 1904
Violinist Archie Easton presents some ‘reminiscences of John Frederick Lott’ (1804–70), including his brief spell as an elephant trainer for a circus
Premium ❘ Feature
Three’s company: the rise of piano trios
Are piano trios having a sudden renaissance? Charlotte Gardner hears from industry professionals and from musicians who relish the repertoire offered by this flexible but underrated chamber grouping
Premium ❘ Focus
Opinion: Independence of the left-hand thumb
To free up left-hand technique, violinist and teacher Martin Goldman encourages players to think more carefully about their thumb as an independent entity, yet still in close partnership with the four fingers
Premium ❘ Focus
Sentimental Work: Andrés Cárdenes on Chausson’s Poème
The Cuban-born violinist feels a rapport with the opulence of Chausson’s Poème – particularly with the revisions by its dedicatee, Eugène Ysaÿe
Competitions
Nine-year-old wins the 2024 Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition
Kai Xuan Travis Wong, a nine-year-old violinist from Singapore, beat more than 100 others in the Italian competition for young violinists
Winners announced at the 2024 Klein International String Competition
20-year-old violist Pearl de la Motte won the grand prize of $5,000, plus a host of performance opportunities
Dmytro Udovychenko wins the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition
The Ukrainian violinist scooped first prize of €25,000, concert engagements and loan of a Stradivari violin, in a final round full of performances from many familiar faces in today’s violin competition circuit
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Nathalie Joachim’s new cello concerto for Seth Parker Woods
The Black dandyism fashion movement spawns a new cello concerto
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Britta Byström’s new violin concerto for Janine Jansen
Day and night inspire a new violin concerto
Masterclass: Franck Violin Sonata on double bass, first movement
Taking inspiration from Jacqueline du Pré and singers, double bassist Michael Rieber shares tips on cultivating Franck’s delicate sound world, despite playing stratospherically high on the instrument
Masterclass: Christine Hoock on Vanhal Double Bass Concerto
In our August 2016 issue, double bassist Christine Hoock emphasises serenity, clarity and flow, and the importance of preparation when tackling the first movement of this overtly Classical piece
Masterclass: Franck Violin Sonata on double bass, first movement
Taking inspiration from Jacqueline du Pré and singers, double bassist Michael Rieber shares tips on cultivating Franck’s delicate sound world, despite playing stratospherically high on the instrument
Masterclass: Christine Hoock on Vanhal Double Bass Concerto
In our August 2016 issue, double bassist Christine Hoock emphasises serenity, clarity and flow, and the importance of preparation when tackling the first movement of this overtly Classical piece
Masterclass: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade with violinist Bart Vandenbogaerde
Concertmaster of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra guides us through the work based on The Arabian Nights, which demands subtle articulation and careful attention to detail to make its colourful characters come alive. From October 2014
The Strad Podcast #115: designing your own musical education as an adult learner with violinist Julia Reddy
How can adult students gain musical enrichment beyond the practice room? The violinist, teacher and podcaster shares her strategies
The Strad Podcast Episode #57: Augustin Hadelich on Recuerdos and Ricochet
Enjoy some ’R&R’: the violinist speaks about his new album, as well as a particularly tricky bowing technique
The Strad Podcast #114: exploring resources and finding your teaching style with cellist Guy Johnston
The cellist speaks about how resources left by renowned ‘cello gods,’ as well as fostering a community of sharing has informed his teaching methods throughout his career
The Strad Podcast #113: Uncovering Ysaÿe’s lost works with violinist Philippe Graffin
The violinist speaks about his efforts to bring Ysaÿe’s Poème concertant into the limelight
The Strad Podcast #115: designing your own musical education as an adult learner with violinist Julia Reddy
How can adult students gain musical enrichment beyond the practice room? The violinist, teacher and podcaster shares her strategies
Competitions
Nine-year-old wins the 2024 Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition
Kai Xuan Travis Wong, a nine-year-old violinist from Singapore, beat more than 100 others in the Italian competition for young violinists
Winners announced at the 2024 Klein International String Competition
20-year-old violist Pearl de la Motte won the grand prize of $5,000, plus a host of performance opportunities
Dmytro Udovychenko wins the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition
The Ukrainian violinist scooped first prize of €25,000, concert engagements and loan of a Stradivari violin, in a final round full of performances from many familiar faces in today’s violin competition circuit
New video: violinist Miranda Cuckson performs Scott Wollschleger’s ‘Secret Machine no.7’
The solo work features on Wollschleger’s upcoming portrait album of compositions
New video: violinist Miranda Cuckson performs Scott Wollschleger’s ‘Secret Machine no.7’
Violinist Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque perform John Jenkins’s Fantasia Suite
Violinist Luka Faulisi plays ‘El Cant des Ocells’
New video: Novo Quartet performs Weinberg
Miró Quartet performs ‘Over the rainbow’
Did AI just kill classical music? A video from violinist Daniel Kurganov
A jaunty performance from early music specialists Ensemble Diderot
A documentary on Icelandic luthier Hans Jóhannsson
Solo Bach in Alaska from cellist Yo-Yo Ma
A star-studded line up performs Mozart Sinfonia concertante
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- Next
‘He was taking a very large elephant to America’ - From the archive: June 1904
Violinist Archie Easton presents some ‘reminiscences of John Frederick Lott’ (1804–70), including his brief spell as an elephant trainer for a circus
Auction Report June 2024: Like father, like son
An Omobono Stradivari and two Vuillaumes were the standout lots during a varied spring auction season in London, as Kevin MacDonald reports
The luthier's guide to good customer relationships
As a general rule, luthiers tend to be better at making instruments than making friends. Violin maker Korinthia A. Klein gives some hints and tips on good customer relations – both for the people entering the workshop and for those running it
Photo story: Celebrating Women Luthiers exhibit at Potter Violins
Held at Potter Violins from 3 to 11 May 2024, Robyn Sullivan reports back from the event that had discussion, laughter and music making at its heart
Taking acoustic measurements from internal vibrations
Normally, acoustic measurements are taken from outside the instrument – but the internal vibrations can reveal even more. Colin Gough presents a method for listening inside the soundbox and demonstrates what it can tell us about the sound
Analysis June 2024: Is ipê an alternative for pernambuco?
With pernambuco in danger of being permanently off limits to bow makers, could another Brazilian hardwood – ipê – be the solution?
‘He was taking a very large elephant to America’ - From the archive: June 1904
Violinist Archie Easton presents some ‘reminiscences of John Frederick Lott’ (1804–70), including his brief spell as an elephant trainer for a circus
Auction Report June 2024: Like father, like son
An Omobono Stradivari and two Vuillaumes were the standout lots during a varied spring auction season in London, as Kevin MacDonald reports
The luthier's guide to good customer relationships
As a general rule, luthiers tend to be better at making instruments than making friends. Violin maker Korinthia A. Klein gives some hints and tips on good customer relations – both for the people entering the workshop and for those running it
Photo story: Celebrating Women Luthiers exhibit at Potter Violins
Held at Potter Violins from 3 to 11 May 2024, Robyn Sullivan reports back from the event that had discussion, laughter and music making at its heart
Taking acoustic measurements from internal vibrations
Normally, acoustic measurements are taken from outside the instrument – but the internal vibrations can reveal even more. Colin Gough presents a method for listening inside the soundbox and demonstrates what it can tell us about the sound
Analysis June 2024: Is ipê an alternative for pernambuco?
With pernambuco in danger of being permanently off limits to bow makers, could another Brazilian hardwood – ipê – be the solution?
Concert review: Piatti Quartet
Tim Homfray hears the performance of Ina Boyle and Dvořák at London’s Kings Place on 20 March 2024
Concert review: Esther Yoo (violin) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Clemens Schuldt
Peter Quantrill hears the premiere of Raymond Yiu’s Violin Concerto at London’s Barbican Hall on 20 March 2024
Concert review: Julia Fischer (violin) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Gardner
Peter Quantrill listens to the performance of Daniel Kidane’s violin concerto Aloud at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 16 March 2024
Review: Pine Tree Flyers
An infectious and inspirational showcase of traditional fiddle music
The Strad Recommends: Quatuor Danel: Shostakovich
A powerful new live cycle from these Shostakovich veterans
The Strad Recommends: Trio Boccherini: Hungarian String Trios
An established ensemble gives new voice to Hungarian string trios
Book review: Violin Junior
Celia Cobb reviews Ros Stephen’s latest collection of method books aimed at younger players
Book review: Quartet: How Four Women Changed the Musical World
Tully Potter reviews Leah Broad’s account of the lives of four pioneering women in music: Ethel Smyth, Rebecca Clarke, Dorothy Howell and Doreen Carwithen
Book review: The Living Art of Violin Playing: Progressive Form
Philippa Bunting reviews Maureen Taranto-Pyatt’s well-described account of her theories on ’progressive form’
Debate
Opinion: Independence of the left-hand thumb
To free up left-hand technique, violinist and teacher Martin Goldman encourages players to think more carefully about their thumb as an independent entity, yet still in close partnership with the four fingers
Opinion: Choosing the right repertoire for group instrumental lessons
With the growth in popularity of group instrumental lessons, it’s never been more important to match the music to the pupil says cellist, composer and teacher Thomas Gregory
Debate
Opinion: Independence of the left-hand thumb
To free up left-hand technique, violinist and teacher Martin Goldman encourages players to think more carefully about their thumb as an independent entity, yet still in close partnership with the four fingers
Opinion: Choosing the right repertoire for group instrumental lessons
With the growth in popularity of group instrumental lessons, it’s never been more important to match the music to the pupil says cellist, composer and teacher Thomas Gregory
Accessories
Products June 2024: Forte3D carbon fibre cello
The world’s first 3D-printed carbon fibre cello
Products June 2024: ArcRest shoulder rest
The company has released new alternative species versions of their shoulder rest
Products June 2024: Arcofrog German bass frog bow replica
The company has added a German bass bow hold version
Concert review: Piatti Quartet
Tim Homfray hears the performance of Ina Boyle and Dvořák at London’s Kings Place on 20 March 2024
Concert review: Esther Yoo (violin) BBC Symphony Orchestra/Clemens Schuldt
Peter Quantrill hears the premiere of Raymond Yiu’s Violin Concerto at London’s Barbican Hall on 20 March 2024
Concert review: Julia Fischer (violin) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Gardner
Peter Quantrill listens to the performance of Daniel Kidane’s violin concerto Aloud at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 16 March 2024
Book review: Violin Junior
Celia Cobb reviews Ros Stephen’s latest collection of method books aimed at younger players
Book review: Quartet: How Four Women Changed the Musical World
Tully Potter reviews Leah Broad’s account of the lives of four pioneering women in music: Ethel Smyth, Rebecca Clarke, Dorothy Howell and Doreen Carwithen
Book review: The Living Art of Violin Playing: Progressive Form
Philippa Bunting reviews Maureen Taranto-Pyatt’s well-described account of her theories on ’progressive form’
Review: Pine Tree Flyers
An infectious and inspirational showcase of traditional fiddle music
The Strad Recommends: Quatuor Danel: Shostakovich
A powerful new live cycle from these Shostakovich veterans
The Strad Recommends: Trio Boccherini: Hungarian String Trios
An established ensemble gives new voice to Hungarian string trios
Artists
Victor Julien-Laferrière on four must-know cello works by female composers
Cellist Victor Julien-Laferrière breaks down the brilliance of the cello writing by women of the French Romantic period ahead of a performance as part of the 11th Palazzetto Bru Zane Paris Festival
Bernstein’s Serenade after Plato’s ‘Symposium’ challenges violinists to become compelling storytellers: James Ehnes
Bernstein’s Serenade after Plato’s ‘Symposium’ may not be an immediately recognisable piece of the violin repertoire. James Ehnes shares how the work has multiple access points that are a reflection of the multifaceted composer, ahead of performances with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Celebrating humanity through the viola: Hsin-Yun Huang
The violist’s new album VivaViola showcases the instrument in its ability to tell stories, connect people and cultures, as well as provide solace during trying times
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