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Stephen Upshaw’s 300-Year-Old Viola Relishes Repertoire Both Old and New
The instrument, a beautiful and rare example by English maker Daniel Parker, was made in London around 1715.
What’s in the Case
Instant Chemistry—Arnaud Sussmann Knew Immediately That He and the “Schneeberger” Strad Were a Perfect Match
The violinist discusses the privilege and responsibility of being a part of the legacy of his venerable concert partner.
Close to Home—Rosemary Curtin’s Arthur Edward Smith Viola Has Spent Its Life in Sydney
Smith’s viola isn’t simply an heirloom of Australian craftsmanship; it’s a reminder that artistry depends less on geography than on curiosity and will.
Ju-Fang Liu’s Tuscan Bass Packs an Unexpected Punch
This circa 1720 Italian treasure is celebrated for being remarkably versatile, adapting seamlessly to every musical genre.
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Susan Babini’s 18th-Century Goffriller Is More Than Just a Cello
As principal cellist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Babini doesn’t just play the instrument, she carries forward its legacy, blending centuries of craftsmanship with a lineage that’s just as personal.
Maiya Papach Discovers There’s More to Her Fagnola Viola Than Meets the Eye
For years, Papach, principal violist of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, believed her viola was an Annibale Fagnola copy of a Giuseppe Rocca.
Violinist Danbi Um Considers Her 1683 Amati a Musical Partner
“I feel like this violin has a soulful quality in its timbre, and the clarity of the tone really complements my playing,” says Um.
Joe Kwon Has One Cello for Home and One That Can Withstand the Rigors of the Road
After nearly two decades of playing cello for the Avett Brothers, Kwon has learned that the touring life can be challenging for musicians and instruments alike.
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Zlata Brouwer Had to Wait to Buy the Violin of Her Dreams
“Sometimes you don’t find an instrument, but an instrument finds you, and this was the case for me,” says Zlata Brouwer about her ca. 1840 German violin.
Michael Franz’s George Craske Bass Is (Almost) One of a Kind
Craske crafted 2,050 violins, 300 violas, and 250 cellos—but only 20 double basses, making them notably scarce
Garth Knox on His Ancient, Resonant Viola D’amore
"The notes ring on after you play, which is very beautiful and changes the whole sound of the instrument"
Ayanna Witter-Johnson’s Cello, ‘Reuben,’ Isn’t One For the Elements
Of Jamaican heritage and English birth, Witter-Johnson plays world music with a personal stamp all her own.
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Jonathan Moerschel’s 1590 Gasparo da Salò Viola Is a Big Instrument With a Big Sound
Moerschel plays on the “ex-Adam” Gasparo da Salò viola (Brescia) made around 1590, on loan from the Stradivari Society.
Dan Mccarthy Takes a Deep Dive Into Early Music Equipment
McCarthy believes the more musicians know about the equipment that existed during the time a composition was written, the better they can understand the music itself
Mike Block’s Cello Gear Has to Keep up With His Eclectic, Multi-Style Career
The “multi-style musician" plays in the Silk Road Ensemble, an American/African fusion band, a tabla duo project, an acoustic folk group, and more
Mia Pixley’s Ripple Cello, Made with Luthier Andrew Carruthers, Pushes the Boundaries of Conventional Instrument Making
The Ripple cello blurs the lines between an electric and acoustic instrument.
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How Kristin Zoernig Came to Possess a 375-Year-Old Bass Likely Played at Lincoln’s Inauguration
Kristin Zoernig's 1648 upright bass has an incredible history, but she says the uniqueness of the tone quality this bass possesses is its greatest gift.
Angèle Dubeau’s Unconventional Path to Her Stradivari
Angèle Dubeau’s own personal relationship to music has been at least partly informed by the historic Stradivari violin she’s been playing since the age of 15.
Marlea Simpson’s Kraemer Viola Thrives in ‘Boomy’ Spaces
Marlea Simpson tends to describe her relationship with her viola in strongly affectionate terms, using words like “fun,” “beautiful,” and “ready for anything.”
Jeremy Garrett’s Family Heirloom Fiddle Is Truly One of a Kind
This is the story of how Jeremy Garrett of the Infamous Stringdusters got his fiddle—a family heirloom with a history of loss and new beginnings.
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Nathaniel Robinson’s Magical Connection With a Felice Guadagnini Violin
When Nathaniel Robinson opens his case, a Felice Guadagnini (grandson of G.B.) violin is waiting there. But he almost missed out on this once-in-a-lifetime instrument.
One Violinist, One Violin… and Six Armed Guards: Francesca Dego on What It’s Like to Play Paganini’s ‘Il Cannone’
When Niccolò Paganini needed a powerful new violin, he found (or was given) an instrument by Guarneri del Gesù. He called it “Il Cannone” (the Cannon) and used it for the rest of his life.
My Personal Voice: Joshua Gindele’s Contemporary Cello is an Old Soul
Cellist Joshua Gindele of the Miró Quartet plays on a cello by the modern American maker Lawrence Wilke that's "basically a copy of Janos Starker’s Goffriller cello."
Missy Raines Plays a 1930s Bass That Once Belonged to Her Father
By Laurence Vittes | From the January-February 2021 issue of Strings magazine The success of Missy Raines’ 2018 Grammy-nominated Royal Traveller album, hailed by the Bluegrass Situation as “an open and honest telling of the realities of a life in…