Contributors

JOSEPH CURTIN (Bass-bar acoustics, page 46) is a

SOUNDPOST

Letters, emails, online comments

Editor’s letter

American music as we know it owes so

Hot tickets

News and events from around the world this month

NEWS IN BRIEF

JULIA WESELY Cellist Sol Gabetta wins the Swiss

OBITUARIES

NORMAN CAROL Norman Carol, concertmaster of the Philadelphia

Sounds of Peru

PREMIERE of the MONTH

COMPETITIONS

Tae-Yeon Kim Azura Trio Poiesis Quartet KIM PHOTO

NEW PRODUCTS

DOUBLE BASS ROSIN Stuck in time A new

Life lessons

Sarah Chang

THROWAWAY CULTURE

Cellist Andrew Janss was shocked to discover the phenomenon of the cheap, single-use bow: one that costs more to rehair than replace. He calls for a change in manufacturers’ attitudes to such waste

The winner takes it all

Charlotte Gardner reports from the first in-person Windsor Festival International String Competition to take place since 2019, and discovers that the talented competitors still have everything to play for

RESPLENDENT HARMONY

The 1733 ‘Salabue, Martzy’ is one of the finest instruments by Carlo Bergonzi in existence. Jason Price examines the violin and looks at its travels over the past 300 years

A CLOSER LOOK

The Strad’s lutherie consultant Philip Ihle put together this month’s poster of the ‘Salabue, Martzy’. Here he points out several extra details to help luthiers make an exact copy of the instrument

REFLECTING ON SUCCESS

Dutch–British violinist Daniel Rowland has had multiple strands to his career – among them soloist, concertmaster, festival director and quartet leader. He speaks with David Kettle about trusting himself to make meaningful connections and go with the flow

TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY

British violin virtuoso Samuel Grimson had his playing career cut short by a wartime accident in 1918, but he went on to co-author a groundbreaking book that paved the way for modern violin teaching. Clifford Hall explores his life

A RETURN TO HEAVEN

For the Takács Quartet, re-recording two of Schubert’s string quartets, albeit with a new line-up, has been an eye-opening experience, as first violinist Edward Dusinberre and violist Richard O’Neill tell Charlotte Gardner

RAISING THE BAR

Joseph Curtin reports on a series of experiments at the 2023 Oberlin Acoustics Workshop, which attempted to ascertain the acoustic effects of altering the height and scoop of the violin’s bass-bar

AN ENDURING LEGACY

July 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Serge Koussevitzky – the Russian-born double bass virtuoso turned music director, educator and mentor. Fellow double bassist and conductor Leon Bosch examines his hugely influential life

GIO BATTA MORASSI

IN FOCUS

Bow tip replacement – part one

TRADE SECRETS

Taking the first step

Making and applying the ground coat is a crucial stage of the varnishing process. James Ropp reveals his own method for a preparation containing no oil

SCHUBERT FANTASY FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO – PART ONE

Violinist Alena Baeva stresses the importance of slow and attentive practice when embarking on the opening sections of this monumental work, in the first of a two-part article

All together now

Continuity and intention in the bowing arm

CONCERTS

Your monthly critical round-up of performances, recordings and publications

RECORDINGS

OTTO VAN DEN TOOM TRAUM UND TRAUMA ANTHEIL

BOOKS

Up Bow, Down Bow: A Child with Down

From the ARCHIVE

FROM THE STRAD JULY 1894 VOL.5 NO.51

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

Rachel Podger The Baroque violinist talks about her

ADRIAN CHANDLER

Vivaldi’s op.8 set of violin concertos – including the Four Seasons – was an early inspiration for the British Baroque violinist and founder of the orchestra La Serenissima