A Career Playing Both Violin and Viola Has Its Joys and Challenges
Playing both violin and viola opens up a whole new world with many more possible roles
November-December 2023
In “Jenna McGaugh,” Maddie Denton Honors Her Family’s Unique Fiddling Heritage
"I’m excited about this tune because I think it’s danceable, which is ultimately my goal anytime I play a fiddle tune."
A ‘Lost’ Bernstein String Quartet Reemerges
Unfinished quartet from 18-year-old Bernstein is the focus of a new album on Parma Recordings
Keeping Kids Motivated to Play Music Requires a Multifaceted Approach
Students with intrinsic motivation describe playing the violin as “fun”
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Time Off Gave Invoke the Bandwidth to Find Its Unique Voice on ‘Evolve & Travel’
Invoke has delighted audiences and defied expectations with every new album
The Gaglianos Were the First Known Violin Making Dynasty in Naples
By the early 1700s Alessandro Gagliano had settled in Naples and was making distinctive and somewhat quirky instruments
Luthier David John Morse on the Beauty of the 1740 “Ysaÿe” Guarneri del Gesù Violin
This is a standout even among instruments of starry provenance
The Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective Takes a Flexible Approach
This 49-member ensemble includes 29 string players
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Thank You, Rick Mooney: String Lessons from an Extraordinary Human
His complete commitment to his deeply held beliefs resulted in a legacy that rings though the string world
Review: ECM’s Luminessence Series Reissues Kenny Wheeler’s 1976 Album ‘Gnu High,’ Featuring ex-Miles Davis Bassist Dave Holland
Classically trained double bassist Dave Holland shifts effortlessly between melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic modes on this album
The Trailblazing Lafayette String Quartet Stood Together for 37 years
The LSQ’s solid standing in the community was built on the quartet’s devotion to its audiences and the music it chose to perform
The Becker Violin Making Dynasty Found Its Inspiration in the Woods
Named “Fiddle Sticks,” the Becker's 14-acre Wisconsin compound was the birthplace of some of the most valuable American violins ever built.
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Review: ‘All Roads’ Lead Back to Vienna on the Shea-Kim Duo’s Latest Album
Violinist Brendan Shea and pianist Yerin Kim are at their best in both Beethoven’s early Sonata and Schumann’s first Violin Sonata
The Špidlen Luthier Dynasty Has Lasted Five Generations, Weathering Profound Upheaval
For nearly 125 years, the bloodline of luthiers has been winning acclaim and awards for their instruments
‘Party Band’ Violinist Dick Bright Offers Advice from a Life Spent Working in the Music Industry
His new book, "Workin’ for a Livin’," is a charming hybrid of memoir, storytelling, and advice advice
Review: Laura Risk Tells Tales with Her Fiddle on ‘Traverse’
This musical storybook combines love of traditional fiddle tunes with contemporary experimental song structures
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After Years of Popularity and Interpretation, the Ysaÿe Violin Sonatas Turn 100
To date, the full set of Ysaÿe sonatas has been recorded at least 49 times
War & Peace: The Bazin Family Produced Bows in Mirecourt for Four Generations
Many if not most of the craftsmen from Mirecourt came from families in which generation after generation plied the same professions
Review: Daniel Hope Collaborates with the New Century Chamber Orchestra on ‘Music for a New Century’
Hope, who also had collaborated with New Century during the 2017–18 season, feels right at home with the ensemble
The Hills’ Hidden History: Untangling the Surprising Tale of London’s Famous Fiddlemakers
Few firms in the fiddle world have been so distinguished as W. E. Hill and Sons
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The California Festival’s Celebration of New Music is a Tale of Three Maestros
Collaboration between more than 90 institutions includes support from the Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego symphonies
Review: ‘David Jaeger: Chamber Works for Viola’ Showcases Carol Gimbel’s Poetic Nature
Jaeger dazzles in his 'Three Songs,' a work that sets Gimbel’s poetry to music for mezzo soprano, viola, and piano.
Why Are Cellists So Often Involved in Political Causes?
The seated cellist who plants an endpin in a rubble-strewn street carries a gravitas that a nimbler instrumentalist may lack.
Review: Cellist Erik Friedlander’s ‘She Sees’ is Dark, Visionary, and Genre Bending
This album marks the second collection from the legendary cellist’s garage jazz rock consortium Sentinel