SOUNDPOST

Editor’s letter

To evolve as an artist requires courage and openness.

Contributors

LORENZO FRIGNANI

On The Beat

Conservatoires in the UK are responding to a rising

OBITUARIES

Violinist Hansheinz Schneeberger died on 23 October

New tricks

A fresh look at what the violin and cello can do

COMPETITIONS

1 The Simply Quartet has won first prize at the Carl

Top lots from the London sales

Old Italians and a modern bow proved popular at this ! autumn’s auctions,as

Sticky situation

‘During the 30 years I spent working as a violinist

Life lessons

The American violinist recalls the path that led him to found the genre-defying Kronos Quartet

BREAKING POINTS

Athough Kafka may have once opined, ‘Better to have

The heart of Amadeus

What is it about Mozart’s music that responds to young

EXPANDING THE LIMITS

The vintage cars have been wheeled out of the Audi

SEEING RED

Madder root has been used since ancient times to provide a deep red pigment - but the process of making it remains mysterious. For the past three years Hugh Withycombe and Guy Harrison have tested different methods to get the recipe just right - and can now reveal their findings

Growingpains

Violinist and Ohio State University professor of music education Bob Gillespie has taught countless teenage string players. Here he explores adolescent character traits, and shares with teachers his valuable guide to dealing with adolescent moods and logic

ON THE BORDERS OF GREATNESS

Giuseppe Sgarbi’s instruments have a unique vibrancy and individuality, while still respecting the traditional Cremonese forms. Lorenzo Frignani examines his career, as well as that of his son Antonio, to suggest why his work deserves more recognition than it has in the past

THE SCORE: FRIEND OR FOE?

The multiple editions of a piece can confuse a musician. Should we always work from an urtext edition in an attempt to access the composer’s most authentic voice? Or can edited versions with interpretative markings be helpful? Cellist Pedro de Alcantara guides us through this minefield

ANSALDO POGGI

Ansaldo Poggi’s fame and reputation have had an incredible

A peninsular bench extension

Ideas for a workplace addition that is completely accessible from all three of its sides

STEPHEN QUINNEY

LOCATION Toronto, Canada

The DNA of design

David Beard argues that the old Cremonese makers had a geometric system of design ‘recipes’ to create the vast number of different instrument patterns we see today

BERG VIOLIN CONCERTO

In the second of two articles, Leila Josefowicz discusses the Adagio of the second movement, in the context of the Viennese School and the Neue Sachlichkeit era

Sound and phrase

The importance of developing a refined, balanced technique to communicate a nuanced musical line on the double bass

Reviews

Mathis Mayr in groundbreaking Feldman PAGE 95

From the ARCHIVE

An unsolved mystery from 1869: T.L. Phipson relates how a c.1709 Stradivari violin vanished without trace – and as far as we know, remains missing to this day

SHEKU KANNEH-MASON

For the British cellist, Elgar’s Cello Concerto brings back a wealth of memories from his earliest years studying the instrument - and of trying to play like Jacqueline du Pre

Welcome

Welcome to the 2020 edition of String Courses. Formerly

START YOUR COURSE HUNTING HERE!

Before you start combing through the string courses listed in this guide, take a look at these suggestions to help find the course that’s right for you

QUESTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED

WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO ON A COURSE?

COURSES FOR PLAYERS AND TEACHERS

MITTENWALD INTERNATIONAL DOUBLE BASS MASTERCLASS, GERMANY