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Editor’s letter

September may herald the end of summer, but

On the beat

News and events from around the world this month

NEWS IN BRIEF

Julia Fischer receives Bavarian arts award bit.ly/44D2Gc2

OBITUARIES

IRENE SHARP US cellist and pedagogue Irene Sharp

PREMIERE of the MONTH

KING’S COLLEGE: The dark form of Edward King,

COMPETITIONS

Affinity Quartet Mio Imai Christian McBride AFFINITY QUARTET

NEW PRODUCTS

BASS FINGERBOARD First of its kind A new,

Life lessons

The Juilliard Quartet second violinist on the joy and value of collaboration in chamber music

SOFTLY DOES IT

As string players, we are often encouraged to make a big sound, but cellist Davina Shum believes that the art of playing quietly is an underrated one

Spirit of camaraderie

The tenth Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and Festa featured not only a dizzying array of high-level music making, but also a sense of mutual support between the competitors, reports Robert Markow

The heights of viola heaven

Carlos María Solare reports from the 48th International Viola Congress, which took place in the tropical surroundings of Salaya, at the western borders of Thailand’s capital city

‘ALL IT TAKES IS ONE’

American violin virtuoso Randall Goosby may only be in his twenties, but he is already deeply committed to passing on his passion for music to the younger generation, as he tells Amanda Holloway

THE DEEP END

Billy Tobenkin, who began playing the cello aged 25, explores his own experience of learning Bach’s Prelude in G major after only a few months, and why he believes it is beneficial for adult learners to dive straight into ‘grown-up’ repertoire – offering tips on how to proceed

FIRST PRINCIPLES

When a professional luthier takes on someone new, the amount of learning needed to become a trusted employee can be overwhelming. Sarah Kluge explains her method of training an apprentice from scratch, including an essential list of dos and don’ts

BRIGHT YOUNG MINDS

Good mental health is crucial to a young musician’s development. Rita Fernandes hears from administrators, counsellors and teachers from leading music schools about what defines a successful conservatoire mental health support system

FAMILY FORTUNES

Zosimo Bergonzi, son of Carlo, was for a time the only luthier active in Cremona – but until recently the string world knew of only one instrument by him. Michel Samson tracks his career through his known works, which now number more than thirty

MARKING A MILESTONE

When Hilary Hahn decided to record Ysaÿe’s Six Solo Violin Sonatas for their centenary year, all the stars seemed to align in terms of both timing and fresh musical insights, as she tells Charlotte Gardner

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

Finding why an instrument buzzes while playing is a task that bedevils luthiers. Dmitry Tarakanov presents a checklist for the most likely causes

FERDINANDO GARIMBERTI

IN FOCUS

Making an ebony crown

Makers reveal their special techniques

LUTHIER FLORIAN BARTSCH

LOCATION Essen, Germany

With 20 per cent extra

Points of interest to violin and bow makers

SCHUBERT STRING QUARTET IN G MAJOR, FIRST MOVEMENT

MASTERCLASS

Arriving in style

Teaching bow landings with special reference to Mozart

CONCERTS

Your monthly critical round-up of performances, recordings and publications

RECORDINGS

FONDATION GAUTIER CAPUÇON PRESENTS… CHAMINADE Piano Trio no.1

BOOKS

Chaconne Handbook I–II: A Theoretical and Practical Guide

petermach

www.petermach.com

From the ARCHIVE

In his early life, Franz Joseph Haydn supported himself as a violinist. T. Lamb Phipson gives an account of the composer’s formative years

ELDBJØRG HEMSING

The Norwegian violinist has fond memories of hearing Bruch’s First Violin Concerto for the first time – and advice for anyone looking to play it themselves in the future