By Laurence Vittes | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazine Three new recordings demonstrate the variety of what cellist Anner Bylsma called “that wonderful piece,” Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. Contemporaneous with the “Eroica” Symphony and the Opus 59 string…
By Greg Olwell Violins have never been safer than they are right now. Manufacturers employ an abundance of luxurious materials to swaddle your beloved violin, while shaping rugged shells to shield your delicate instrument from a destructive world. And now,…
By Barbara Bogatin | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazine I wait excitedly behind the glass door, settling into my familiar pre-concert relaxation routine—feeling my feet grounded on the floor, radiating energy from the base of my spine through…
By David Templeton Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s latest album, Carnival, is a delightfully charming and ambitious undertaking, marking the first time the renowned cellist has recorded with his entire family. The Kanneh-Mason siblings—Isata, Braimah, Sheku, Konya, Jeneba, Aminata, and Mariatu—range in age…
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By Philip J. Kass | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazine My first article for Strings, back in the late 1990s, was about English bows and the marketplace. Twenty years on, have they found a place in the…
A parent’s guide to renting or buying a violin for school By Patrick Sullivan It had three strings, no bridge, and the top was coming unglued when the violin was carried into a classroom by a young beginner whose parents…
The Calder Quartet’s (Benjamin Jacobson and Andrew Bulbrook, violins; Jonathan Moerschel, viola; Eric Byers, cello) new digital-only release, Eclectic Currents (Pentatone), showcases their commissioning work between 2011 and 2014, before violinist Tereza Stanislav replaced outgoing founding member Andrew Bulbrook. According…
1. Type of Material: You’ll find there are several choices in materials to consider; each offers a different mix of durability, affordability, and tonal complexity. Pernambuco is historically the choice material for fine bows, and it will generally occupy the…
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By David Templeton | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazine Early this year, as the pandemic reared its head and performing-arts organizations quickly realized the enormity of the impact it would have on their plans for 2020, pianist…
As told to Greg Cahill Keep Connected chronicles the ways in which string players are staying in touch with their audience or students during the global coronavirus pandemic and its lingering impact on live concerts and classroom education. Even as…
By David Templeton | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazine “It’s been a wild and crazy journey, to say the least,” laughs violinist Damien Escobar, chuckling his way through another day in COVID lockdown as he prepares lunch…
By James Koehler | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazine One of my favorite restorations was on a ca. 1690 Giovanni Grancino violin. When I first saw the violin, it had many cracks in the top, which was…
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Evaluate your instrument purchase options using these 7 criteria 1. Playability You should be able to move from string to string freely with an even tone across the strings. 2. Tone and Sound Are you looking for a violin with…
Buying a stringed instrument can be a bit overwhelming, and not just in the picking of an instrument. You also need a bow. And a case. And possibly a chin rest. And myriad other accessories. Because of the many options,…
The violinist hopes her new album inspires listeners to cast their ballots By David Templeton For Grammy-nominated violinist Regina Carter, the unique notion of cutting a jazz album about the power of casting a ballot in America was not all…
By Greg Cahill | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazine “Hello Weakness, You Make Me Strong is, for us, about finding empowerment in the things that have previously held you back,” violinist and arranger Rachel Ruggles says of…
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100 years after her birth, violinist Ginger Smock is still due wider recognition for her contributions to the history of jazz violin
If something's off with your stringed instrument, here are some things to check before risking major damage by messing with the soundpost.
By Caeli Smith | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazine “Wait, so—when I put my pinky down on the A string, it sounds the same as the open E string?” Allia looked at me, her face lighting up. …
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