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Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet Has Been Spreading Cheer for Two Centuries
Two hundred years after its first performance in the Mendelssohn family home, the Octet is a fixture in public concert halls and private homes.
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String Pioneers: Domenico Dragonetti Leveled Up Bass Playing for Every Subsequent Generation
Although he was likely not the very first bass soloist, Dragonetti is widely known as the first bass soloist in the class of musician one would call “virtuoso.”
The SteelDrivers’ Fiddle Stalwart Tammy Rogers Sings the Praises of Modern Bluegrass
Rogers has been at the vanguard of the modern bluegrass movement, blending traditional bluegrass, country, soul, and gospel music.
String Pioneers: Female Cellists Owe Much to the Intrepid Lise Cristiani
In the 19th century, it took rare determination for a woman to attempt a career as a cellist. No one could’ve been more determined than Cristiani.
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String Pioneers: The d’Arányi Sisters Marshalled the Transition Between the 19th and 20th Centuries
The Hungarian-British violinists Jelly d’Arányi and Adila Fachiri represent a crucial link in the history of violin performance.
String Pioneers: George Enescu Blended the Sounds of Romanian Culture and Language into His Complex Compositions
Enescu, for all his considerable gifts, has been a stubbornly neglected figure.
Brooklyn Rider Celebrates 20 Years of Pushing—and Blurring—Boundaries
Perhaps no modern string quartet has tapped such a varied slate of collaborators.
The Nashville Symphony String Quartet’s Revolutionary Mission
1963 saw the formation of the first integrated string quartet in the South, performing in white, Black, and newly integrated schools across Nashville during a pivotal time in the city’s history.
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The Essays of Donald Tovey Still Inform Musicologists 150 Years After His Birth
Sir Donald Francis Tovey (1875–1940) raised the program note to a literary genre when he used them to provide audiences with the means of hearing music through his unique and perceptive lens.
For Her First Foray into the Concerto Medium, Anna Thorvaldsdottir Finds an Ideal Partner in Cellist Johannes Moser
Composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir and cellist Johannes Moser discuss the creation of ‘Before we fall’—the first concerto Thorvaldsdottir has written.
The W. E. Hill & Sons Archive Tells the Story of Richard Bennett’s Fabulous Violin Collection
This was probably the finest 20th-century collection of instruments owned by a single individual.
A String Player’s Guide to Montreal
The city is a melting pot of traditions, ethnicities, and languages, and is a thriving hub for artists and musicians.
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Musical Cities: A String Player’s Guide to Prague
Prague has a broad appeal. But to truly appreciate this city and its legacy of music and art, don’t confine your visit to the touristy center.
15 of the Most Significant String Works of the 21st Century . . . So Far
To mark the first 25 years of this century, here are 15 new string pieces that proved especially significant and impactful (plus a few honorable mentions).
Musical Cities—A String Player’s Guide to Philadelphia
A vibrant hub for art, ideas, and innovation since the time of Jefferson, the city continues to blend its rich history with a forward-thinking energy that inspires musicians and audiences alike.
On ‘Women,’ Esther Abrami Lends Her Voice to a Varied Cast of Underrepresented Composers
The French violinist is willing to bet you haven’t heard most of the music—or even the names of some of its composers—that you’ll find on this album.
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Cellist and Composer Peter Gregson Creates an Eponymous Album with a Presence
Nine tracks for cello and electronics, ‘Peter Gregson’ (Decca) is distinctly contemporary.
The Late Composer and Multi-Instrumentalist John Hartford Left a Hidden Treasure Trove of 4,000-plus Fiddle Tunes
Until recently, few knew that Hartford, largely known as a banjo player and country-pop composer, had a nearly obsessive devotion to the fiddle.
Musical Destinations—A String Player’s Guide to Charlotte, North Carolina
For more than a century, "the Queen City" has been a haven for players and lovers of string music.
Carnegie Hall’s Well-Being Concerts Blend Music with Self-Care and Mindfulness
The Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute (WMI) is sponsoring concerts that aim to combine mindfulness, meditation, and live performance into hour-long experiences.
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Music and the Brain: Humans are Uniquely Attuned to the Healing Power of Song
Music therapists design sessions to help their clients that utilize music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, music performance, and other activities.
No Strings Attached—A Look at the MacArthur Fellowship’s Multifaceted Impact
Among the benefits bestowed upon awardees of the coveted MacArthur Fellowship is the unrestricted ability to follow their creative impulses into uncharted realms.
Cellist Abel Selaocoe Continues to Redefine His Approach to the Instrument
With his second album, 'Hymns of Bantu', Selaocoe evokes a sense of shared experience, reverence, and storytelling through music.
Rachel Barton Pine Learns a Whole New Way to Play the Corelli Sonatas
In recording her new album, the violinist’s commitment to authenticity was pushed to new levels when she decided to play the sonatas as Corelli himself would have done.