October-2014
A Girolamo Amati contralto viola reveals its secrets in an extensive study, and we talk to US quartet Brooklyn Rider about its latest multidisciplinary project. We examine the legacy of French violinist–composer Jean-Marie Leclair and there’s a Masterclass on Rimsky-Korsakov. Plus mutes, chin rests, violin cases and carbon-fibre bows in Accessories 2014.
September-2014
In our special education issue, some of today’s top string players and teachers recall the tutors who made the biggest impression on them. We explore a youth education scheme in London, the Bologna school of violin making, and how to deal with unruly kids. Plus, Leon Bosch on Dittersdorf’s Second Double Bass Concerto
August-2014
We mark the centenary of the First World War’s outbreak with an issue on music and conflict, exploring string works about war, soldiers’ instruments, and the work of Musicians without Borders. Plus Tamsin Waley-Cohen’s Practice Diary, the Henschel Quartet on Schulhoff, and taking care of instruments in summer.
July-2014
Latvian violinist Baiba Skride discusses her love of modern repertoire and Didier Lockwood talks about his genre-hopping career. We talk to artists including Natalie Clein, Daniel Hope and Rachel Barton Pine about premiering new works, and explore the world of commissioning instruments. Plus Gary Karr on the plight of orchestral bassists.
June-2014
We examine a 1774 Guadagnini violin that has survived in almost pristine condition, and talk to string players who have set up their own festivals. Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow recalls his time at the New York Philharmonic, and orchestra principals discuss the works of Strauss. Plus Leonidas Kavakos gives a Masterclass on the Brahms Violin Concerto
April-2014
The late cellist János Starker receives an eight-page tribute, with exclusive photo galleries and memories from friends and colleagues. Fiddler Sam Sweeney gives a Masterclass on the English folk style, complete with videos, and we investigate career development in the orchestral world. Plus, in-depth interviews with the Arditti Quartet and Neville Marriner
February-2014
The double bass takes centre stage, as we interview six of today’s top young bassists and investigate teaching, making, and travelling with a bass. There’s a Masterclass from Dan Styffe, Joel Quarrington’s practice diary, François Rabbath on the things that inspire him, and a report on the state of the international double bass market. Plus an interview with veteran bassist Barbara Sanderling
January-2014
Cellist Zoë Keating explains how her success as a DIY musician in an issue with a ‘fresh thinking’ theme. We report on ensembles with alternative repoertoire such as the Silk Road Ensemble and discover why luthiers have started creating their own exhibitions. Plus Gary Hoffman on Brahms, David Harrington on teaching new music, and Summerplus, our annual guide to short string courses worldwide.
December-2013
Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter talks about reaching out to the next generation of classical music lovers, and we report on the downfall of disgraced violin dealer Dietmar Machold. Top viola players discuss playing Hindemith and there’s a tribute to the late US luthier Carl F. Becker. Plus, Mihaela Martin on Enescu, Simon Fischer on bowing and a report on lutherie in Afghanistan.
November-2013
Joshua Bell is on the cover of our North America-focused issue, which contains a detailed examination of his 1713 ‘Huberman’ Stradivari. We explore San Francisco’s chamber music scene, look back on the varied career of Harry Lookofsky, and report on the Banff string quartet competition. Plus, musicians discuss Britten’s string works and Tim Kliphuis gives tips on playing like Stéphane Grappelli.
October-2013
Jacques Thibaud, Fritz Kreisler and Pablo Casals adorn the cover of a special issue celebrating the great players of the past. It includes guest editor Steven Isserlis on Thibaud, Ivry Gitlis on Enescu and Gary Karr on Koussevitsky. Bonnie Hampton and Arnold Steinhardt recall their lessons with Casals and Szigeti respectively, and we look back on some of the 20th century’s lesser-known string stars.
September-2013
Violist and pedagogue Bruno Giuranna heads up an issue focused on teaching, in which we investigate the tuition of string quartets, the value of apprenticeships, and methods of teacher-training. Jean-Guihen Queyras gives a guide to Elgar’s Cello Concerto, there’s a practice diary from bassist Waldemar Schwiertz and Zakhar Bron lists his favourite things.
August-2013
US violist David Aaron Carpenter explains how he’s using star power to broaden the appeal of his instrument. We report on a Chinese music education programme inspired by El Sistema and look back at the life of Albert Spalding, one of the top violinists of his day. Plus, James Ehnes talks about Prokofiev and we appraise a 1658 Nicolò Amati violin.
June-2013
Raphael Wallfisch: the pragmatic cellist with a penchant for new works Vuillaume cello: the 1865 ‘Sheremetev’, one of the maker’s finest works Joseph Hague: we uncover the man behind a mysterious set of recordings Group teaching: different methods for injecting energy into rehearsasls Plus: a guide to antiquing instruments, a Masterclass on Britten, and a preview of the Stradivari exhibition at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum
April-2013
Violinist Christian Tetzlaff is the cover star of our German-themed issue, and we have ten copies of his latest CD to give away. We find out how to play the ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata like a Beethoven-era player and ask whether there is still a ‘German’ orchestral sound. Plus, musical insights from violist Nils Mönkemeyer, klezmer player Alicia Svigals and cello teacher Hans Rabus.
March-2013
We talk to the Calder Quartet, a foursome equally at home performing with punk bands as on the concert stage. Pedagogue Mimi Zweig advises on children’s first violin lessons, and Roger Hargrave concludes his look at the evolution of Baroque instruments. We also ask the question: should musicians ever perform for free?
February-2013
We talk to cellist Alisa Weilerstein and review her latest CD of Elgar and Carter concertos. This edition also includes a short video interview in which Weilerstein discusses the latter piece with the composer. There’s also a look at the bows of Persoit, hiring a publicist, and collaborative teaching.
January-2013
December-2012
November-2012
October-2012
September-2012
Teaching is the focus for this month's edition, in which we discover how Suzuki teaching has spread across the world in recent years. Lutherie pedagogues give their views on the contentious issue of studying restoration, and we consider the legacy of Francesco Geminiani, author of one of the earliest books on studying technique.
August-2012
Cellist Antonio Meneses graces the cover of this Latin American-themed issue, which includes features on string teaching in Venezuela and Colombia, lutherie in Mexico, Piazzolla’s string music and cellist Carlos Prieto’s favourite things. Plus, as he reaches his 90th birthday, violinist Ivry Gitlis looks back on his long career.
July-2012
In this issue, Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto discusses his experiments in sound, and we find out how Les 24 Violons du Roi – one of the first string orchestras – has been recreated. There’s a guide to busking, tips on teaching different styles, and interviews with final-year string students as they start their professional careers.
June-2012
This issue’s guest editor, violinist Hilary Hahn, has chosen a theme of ‘conversations’, in which members of the string world talk to people from other professions to discover new perspectives on their craft. Teachers give their thoughts on tackling difficult subjects with students, and in Masterclass, Jean-Guihen Queyras takes us through Bach’s Cello Suite no.5
April-2012
The members of the Brodsky Quartet talk about their love of experimentation, and Maxim Vengerov discusses his return to performing after years away. There’s also a report on Scottish fiddling, a rtrospective on viola player Frederick Riddle, and an analysis of violins in 17th-century Dutch artworks. Plus, Mats Lindström’s tips on playing cello scales.
March-2012
Germany is the theme for this issue, with an interview with player and teacher Antje Weithaas, a Masterclass with cellist Alban Gerhardt, and a report on the resurgence of lutherie in the Vogtland region. Plus, quartet members discuss the works of Wolfgang Rihm, and violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann explains his love for Beethoven’s late string quartets.
February-2012
Can professional players tell a Strad from a modern instrument in a blind test? We report on the experiment and its controversial findings. There’s also a discussion on the perils of teacher–student relationships and a look back at the life of master restorer René Morel, who died in December. Plus a report on dendrochronology.
January-2012
In an issue that takes ‘fresh thinking’ as its theme, we talk to UK-based duo 2Cellos, who secured a record deal and concert tour through the power of YouTube. We learn how particle-accelerator technology unlocked the secrets of a Guadagnini, and get the lowdown on using ‘extended techniques’ in playing.
December-2011
In an issue themed around money, we ask: How much could a violin cost you over a lifetime? Why do players pay huge sums without getting proper instrument checks? Can the Internet help you with project funding? Does a portfolio career make good financial sense? Plus: a Tasmin Little Masterclass, Stephan von Baehr’s workshop, movement exercises and lots more
November-2011
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, cellist and founder of the Silk Road Project, is the cover star for our North America-themed issue, which includes reports on the Marlboro summer festival and the Lafayette Quartet. Hilary Hahn gives her thoughts on the Ives Sonata no.3 and there’s an interview with Joseph Silverstein of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
October-2011
September-2011
In a special edition on teaching, we talk to psychologists and string instructors about how students react to words of feedback, encouragement and criticism. Cello pedagogue Aldo Perisot talks to his former student, Ralph Kirshbaum, and Thomas Kemp analyses Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht. Plus a look at a groundbreaking instrument scheme in South Africa.
August-2011
July-2011
This month’s issue features a detailed analysis of the ‘Plowden’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin, an interview with double bass pedagogue Evgeny Kolosov, an essay on the career of US violinist Maud Powell, tips on coping with desk partners, and interviews with Benjamin Hughes and Charles Mutter from the BBC Concert Orchestra.
June-2011
In our Benelux special, Dutch violinist Janine Jansen discusses her return to performing after an enforced break, there’s a focus on the string scene in Luxembourg and an examination of the Belgian string playing school. Mischa Elman is the subject of our Great Violinists feature, and William Conway advises on achieving balance in Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet.
May-2011
Violist and pedagogue Kim Kashkashian kicks off our viola special, in which we consider why this century is proving to be a halcyon era for the instrument. Steve Reich and David Harrington consider their myriad collaborations, there’s a focus on great violinist Jelly d’Arányi, and Peter Cropper hands on tips for playing Mozart’s K526 violin sonata.
April-2011
In our special focus on Germany, cellist Alban Gerhardt discusses Casals, fellow players and allowing imperfection. We look back at the career of violinist Georg Kulenkampff, and investigate lutherie in Markneukirchen. Igor Oistrakh recalls his past career as he reaches his 80th birthday, and John Goldsby explains how to interpret Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm.
March-2011
Stradivari’s ‘Messiah’, one of the most revered instruments ever made, gets a full appraisal including dendrochronological analysis. Fabio Biondi discusses Baroque performance and we examine the legacy of Czech violinist Jan KubelÃk. Plus, interviews with Harrison Birtwistle, Christian Tetzlaff, Baiba and Lauma Skride, Philip Dukes and Lesley Robertson, as well as Daniel Hope’s practice diary.
February-2011
Violinist Lisa Batiashvili discusses her empathy with Shostakovich’s music and we discover what happens when top instruments are stolen. We also visit the Amsterdam Cello Biennale, explore the history of gut strings and appraise the career of Russian pedagogue Yuri Yankelevich. Plus, Norman Lebrecht asks whether concertmasters have lost their punch.
January-2011
December-2010
In an issue themed around the question of ‘Real or fake’, we speak to Dutch violinist André Rieu and consider his impact on the world of popular classics. Experts talk about spotting a fake Stradivari and we investigate the fake Baroque works written by modern composers. Plus, interviews with Jack Liebeck, Christian Ferras and Sheila Nelson.
November-2010
Jascha Heifetz is the cover star of our North America-themed issue, in which we examine his career Stateside. We ask whether there’s such a thing as an American string sound and talk to visionary quartet Ethel. Plus, Joseph Curtin on the ‘Vieuxtemps’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’, and luthier Carl Becker’s favourite things.
October-2010
September-2010
We investigate the success of Venezuela’s El Sistema education programme in an education-themed edition, which also examines how conservatoires are catering for jazz students and asks luthiers how they entered their profession. There’s a look at the legacy of Russian pedagogue Nelli Shkolnikova and Orin O’Brien describes exercises for the double bass.
