Review: A Double Helping of Solo Bach
Two new recordings of the Cello Suites by Anastasia Kobekina and Inbal Megiddo dazzle in their own way.
January-February 2026
An Expert’s Guide to Historical Research for Lutherie’s Comprehensive Volumes
It is part of human nature to take the stories we’ve heard and then try to find their confirmation. In the violin world, where old stories are mostly fiction, this can lead to catastrophe.
Review: ‘String Quartets’ by Travis LaPlante and the JACK Quartet
Composer and saxophonist Laplante’s new album explores the meanings of resonance and tuning in two contrasting compositions.
Artistic Nurture: Louis Levitt on Building the Sybarite Sound Lab
The double bassist describes his latest venture as an incubator where musicians and composers can experiment, collaborate, and build projects of varying size and scope.
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Music Publishing 101—An Urtext Editor Honors a Composer’s Intentions
A crucial part of an urtext editor's role is removing anything that might’ve been added by others over the years.
Zoltán Kodály’s Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8 Redefined the Instrument
A century after its release, its challenge remains absolute: Every generation’s aspiring cello virtuosos must learn how to speak Kodály.
Review: ‘The Mendelssohn Legacy’ by Trio Zadig
Guided by a youthfully romantic sensibility, the trio plays with a splendid narrative flow.
Internet Connection—Kate & Brendan Discovered Their Musical Compatibility Over Zoom
It took the pandemic to turn Gregory and Hearn from occasional group-jam players into an actual musical duo.
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D’Addario Gives its Micro Tuners a Boost
New tuners for violin and viola offer up to 22 hours of life before needing to be recharged.
High Stakes, New Identities—The Changing Face of the North American Orchestra
North American orchestras are entering a moment when leadership changes, artistic identity, and civic purpose intersect in consequential ways.
Review: On ‘Le Chant des Muses’, Violinist Anna Urpina Puts Forgotten Female Composers in the Spotlight
“The process of examining manuscripts, selecting the most compelling pieces, and transcribing them to assess their musical potential has been both challenging and inspiring,” says Urpina.
Soloist, Step Forward—Thomas Adès’ Violin Concerto Gives the Instrument Something Colorful to Say
Adès is one of the few British composers to have achieved a steady presence in North American concert halls.
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Sticking to the Facts: An Academic Publishing Primer
Enjoy this insider's look at how a manuscript becomes a published work and the various roles occupied by people responsible for assuring the integrity of its claims.
Did You Know . . . Brahms Was the Only Famous Composer in the 19th Century to Write a Full-length Double Concerto for Violin and Cello?
The vast majority of double violin and cello concertos have been written in the 20th and 21st centuries.
DIY—Advice from Composer Jessie Montgomery on Publishing Your Own Music and Getting it Played
To ensure control of her creations, the Grammy-winning violinist and composer has essentially become her own publisher and distributor.
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.
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Extend Yourself: How to Practice Extensions, a Notoriously Tricky Technique
Defined as any finger placement exceeding the normal framework of the left hand, extensions are a rarely mastered but essential building block of technique.
Solid Gold: The Pacifica Quartet Conjures Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Chamber Music Magic
In recording Korngold’s evocative chamber pieces, the Pacifica Quartet sought to accentuate the composer’s renowned command of melody and harmony.
Rogues en Vogue: The Voller Brothers Through the Eyes of Arthur Frederick Hill
Among the most fascinating makers in history, the Voller Brothers developed various ways of helping to sate the global demand for old Italian instruments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
A Dialogue Between Centuries: The ‘Polonia’ Strad Violin Is Getting a High-Tech Twin
Using cutting-edge technology, Mateusz Majkowski and Janusz Wawrowski are building a new instrument modeled on the style and geometry of the “Polonia” Strad as it was in 1685.
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At 40, the Cassatt String Quartet Pays Tribute to a Longtime Collaborator
The Cassatt String Quartet celebrates its 40th anniversary with three string quintets by Daniel Strong Godfrey.