When Curating Educational Catalogs, Music Publishers Must Be Pragmatic and Flexible
Curating an educational music catalog requires a careful blend of artistic vision and commercial awareness.
July-August 2025
Curtis Stewart on Seeking, Finding, and ‘Recomposing’ the Lost Music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
The Grammy-nominated violinist-composer’s magnificent new recording brings a few lost gems to a world that, until now, has rarely had the opportunity to hear them.
When HIPP Meets MIPP: The Art of Historically Informed Performance on Modern Instruments
Three leading conductors who specialize in 18th-century repertoire describe how the craft of playing counts for more than rigid historical orthodoxy.
Review: ‘Dragonscales’ Makes Learning Strings an Adventure
Violist Nick Revel has produced an enjoyable, extensive, and adventurous exploration of left- and right-hand exercises for violin, viola, and cello.
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Budget-Friendly Future-Fi Solutions: A ‘Strings’ Guide to Desktop Listening
Future-Fi is all about bringing great sound to small spaces, often with just a simple headphone amp, streaming Bluetooth device, and modest “near-field” speakers, headphones, or in-ear monitors (IEMs).
Where Makers Take Wing: The Lutherie Program at Minnesota State College Southeast Turns 50
The year 1975 saw the founding of a small school of stringed instrument repair that would become the violin repair and making program at Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing.
Parlez-vous Italien? Violin Making in Turin Drew on Both French and Italian Traditions
Setting up shop in Turin in the early 1820s, luthier Giovanni Francesco Pressenda managed to capture the essence of his country—a little bit French, a little bit Italian—in his work.
The Miró Quartet Serves Up a Triple Helping of Ginastera
Seeking a canonic work to balance its 30th anniversary concert program, the group turned to the three string quartets of 20th-century Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera.
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The New Golden Age of the Viola Duo—Tallā Rouge Makes a Case for Two Vibrant Voices
Lauren Spaulding and Aria Cheregosha are on a mission: to expand the viola’s voice by commissioning groundbreaking works from today’s most exciting and diverse composers.
5 Minutes with . . . Fiddler Alasdair Fraser
It's been nearly 40 years since Fraser founded the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, a group of enthusiasts that's grown to over 300 people.
“The Beast”—Warchal Releases a Violin String Set with a Dramatic Moniker
As its name suggests, this is not a set for the faint of heart. It is designed for the soloist and aims to provide “unmatched projection and response.”
Did You Know . . . Louis Spohr (1784–1859) Invented the Chin Rest?
And that's just the beginning. So highly regarded was Spohr across Europe that he was an honorary member of no fewer than 38 music societies. Quite a man, this Spohr!
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Rethinking Your Approach to Intonation on Violin
The first step to fixing bad intonation on the violin? Admitting it’s a problem.
Justin Robinson and Rhiannon Giddens Pay Homage to the Past on ‘What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow’
No mere collection of rustic folk tunes, the album is a reflection of the role that African music and African American musicians have played in the foundational culture of a nation.
A String Lover’s Guide to Digital Streaming Platforms
It can be frustrating trying to find what you’re looking for amid a tidal wave of pop, rap, and rock. Luckily, a growing number of streaming platforms cater to consumers and creators of string music.
Remembering Avant–Garde Composer Sofia Gubaidulina
The Soviet composer was denounced early on for her “irresponsible attitude to the principles of socialist realism”—a comment she took as a badge of honor.
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Old to New School—A Brief History of Sound Recording
We can loosely organize the history of sound recording into four eras based on the emergent technology of each period: acoustic, electrical, magnetic, and digital.
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.
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.
Review: Mads Tolling Honors Past Legends on ‘Masters of Jazz Violin’
The two-time Grammy Award winner has established his place among an elite cadre of contemporary jazz violinists.