Learn the Difference Between Violin and Fiddle
It's said that violin is for classical and jazz while fiddle is for folk, country, and bluegrass. but is that really true?
Stories
Alasdair Fraser on How the Scottish Fiddle Is a ‘Vehicle for Different Types of Dialects’
Mastering the different styles of fiddling requires the same deep immersion as language fluency, according to Alasdair Fraser. It’s not about simply learning sheet music, but speaking in a regional dialect on your violin.
Mr. Tourte, I Need a Bow! How the Tourte Design Became the Model for the Modern Bow
The story of the development of Tourte's bows—now the gold standard in bow design—illustrates the interplay of influence among bows, instruments, and musical style.
Darol Anger Breaks Down Bluegrass from a Fiddler’s Perspective
By Patrick Sullivan
Exact numbers aren’t really Darol Anger’s thing. But over some four decades as a musician and educator, the incredibly versatile fiddler has... Read More...
The ‘Grass is Sometimes Greener: Violinist Tessa Lark has Forged a Career Steeped in Both Classical and Bluegrass Traditions
By Brian Wise | From the March-April 2021 issue of Strings magazineThe goal was to highlight two top-flight string players from two generations, collaborat... Read More...
Keeping it Together: How Professional Chamber Ensembles are Coping with the Challenges of COVID
By David Templeton | From the March-April 2021 issue of Strings magazineChamber music is, by definition, small, intimate, together—originally performed in ... Read More...
Creative Momentum: Hilary Hahn’s New Album, Solo Project, and Role Exploring Artificial Intelligence
By Inge Kjemtrup | From the March-April 2021 issue of Strings magazineWearing a light blue coat with the hood up, Hilary Hahn trudges through a chilly late... Read More...
Historical Mystique: Why—and to What Extent—Does an Instrument’s History Determine its Value?
By Brian Wise | From the January-February 2021 issue of Strings magazineThe provenance of a musical instrument—its history of ownership and possession—is a... Read More...
Missy Raines Plays a 1930s Bass That Once Belonged to Her Father
By Laurence Vittes | From the January-February 2021 issue of Strings magazineThe success of Missy Raines’ 2018 Grammy-nominated Royal Traveller album, hail... Read More...
Baroque Eccentric: Ruberto Sabbatini’s Violin Sonata Offers Charm and Unexpected Quirks
By Andrew McIntosh | From the January-February 2021 issue of Strings magazineCuriosity has always been my guiding light as a musician. I find repeatedly th... Read More...