Episodes
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Episode 85: the Dudok Quartet on ’What Remains’ and eclecticism
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
When you hear the word ‘eclectic’, what do you think of? Random, perhaps? Eclectic does not mean random, as illustrated by the guests of this episode from the Dudok Quartet.
Violinist Marleen Wester and cellist David Faber speak to online editor Davina Shum about the quartet’s new album What Remains, an eclectic mix of repertoire spanning 1000 years. What brings together music from the medieval era to the modern day? Marleen and David speak about how different voices coming together in the form of repertoire, instruments and quartet personnel are the grounds for collaboration and linking tradition with progression.
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What Remains (String Quartet no.4) – Joey Roukens
I: Oscillations
II: Motectum
Dudok Quartet
What Remains
Rubicon
Photo credit: Green Room Creatives, Yuri Andries
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Episode 84: double bassist Luis Cabrera on performing Bach Cello Suites
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Luis Cabrera the principal bass of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. When he’s not doing either of those jobs, he’s tackling some monumental solo repertoire – Bach’s Cello Suite no.1… on double bass!
Luis chats with online editor Davina Shum about his long journey preparing and recording this suite, his approaches to playing solo Bach, as well as strategies for playing a work not technically written for your instrument.
Watch Luis perform the Courante from Bach Cello Suite no.1: https://bit.ly/3NZhxYk
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II - Allemande
Suite for Solo Cello no.1 in G major BWV 1007
Johann Sebastian Bach
Luis Cabrera, double bass
Photo credit: Elbert Besaris
Thursday May 18, 2023
Thursday May 18, 2023
Most string players will get to a point in their career where their faithful instrument has served them to the best of its ability, and the time has come for the player to think about upgrading to a fine instrument. It can be very exciting, the prospect of finding the best instrument, but also daunting – we don’t have to mention how expensive fine instruments go for, which understandably means that a lot of these options are out of reach for students or young emerging artists.
Violinist Peter Herresthal spoke with online editor and cellist Davina Shum about making the transition from a student instrument to a fine instrument, having worked for Dextra Musica and now serving as artistic director of the Anders Sveaas Trust – both of which have a collection of fine instruments that are loaned to up-and-coming artists. He speaks about his experience acquiring his Guadagnini, other violins he’s met along the way, as well as the different options and strategies young artists can take when looking for a fine instrument.
Read our article Postcard from Oslo: ‘Master to Master’ symposium in our May 2023 issue
Read about Johan Dalene's recent Stradivari acquisition, courtesy of the Anders Sveaas Trust
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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III: Rounds
Violin Concerto op.23
Thomas Adès
Peter Herresthal, violin / Norwegian Radio Orchestra / Andrew Manze
BIS
Photo courtesy Mats Bäcker
Thursday May 04, 2023
Episode 82: Violinist Tessa Lark on The Stradgrass Sessions
Thursday May 04, 2023
Thursday May 04, 2023
Tessa Lark’s long awaited Stradgrass Sessions album is out on 5 May, comprising a melting pot of styles, influences and collaborations in one disc. She spoke online editor Davina Shum recently about how her musical upbringing in Kentucky combining Americana and classical has shaped her, the versatility of her c.1600 Maggini violin, plus why one of the tracks on her album has her chasing good vibes.
Read our Session Report on the album in our October 2020 issue here.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Le Soka – Cheese in the Wine
Tessa Lark, violin
The Stradgrass Sessions
First Hand Records
Photo credit: Benjamin Allen
Thursday Apr 20, 2023
Episode 81: TwoSet Violin’s Brett Yang on the ‘Empress Caterina’ Stradivari
Thursday Apr 20, 2023
Thursday Apr 20, 2023
TwoSet Violin celebrated a significant milestone late in 2022: upon reaching 4 million subscribers on YouTube, the violin comedy duo put on a performance of a lifetime with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, with Brett Yang playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, and Eddy Chen joining him later for the Bach Violin Concerto for two violins. Not only this, but for the occasion, Tarisio loaned the pair two Stradivari violins from 1708 – the ‘Empress Caterina’ and ‘Regent Superb’. What an opportunity!
Brett Yang chats to online editor Davina Shum about his experience playing this instrument, what it taught him about his playing, as well as other instruments he’s played throughout his career.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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III Allegro molto vivace
Violin Concerto in E minor op.64
Felix Mendelssohn
Brett Yang, violin / Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Rodolfo Barraez, conductor
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Episode 80: Malin Broman on multi-instrumentalism
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
How many people does it take to perform the Mendelssohn Octet? In the case of Malin Broman, one. You might remember her pandemic-era video where she performed all eight parts of the finale – including that fiendish opening in the second cello part. Malin speaks to online editor Davina Shum about her journey into multi-instrumentalism and the versatility and different perspectives that come with playing other instruments.
Watch Malin’s videos here!
One performer plays Mendelssohn’s Octet
Eight Malin Bromans perform ‘A Room of One’s Own’ by Britta Byström
Passacaglia by Händel/Halvorsen - but not as you know it!
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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IV: Presto
Octet in E-flat major op.20
Felix Mendelssohn
Malin Broman, vn 1 / Malin Broman, vn 2 / Malin Broman, vn 3 / Malin Broman, vn 4 / Malin Broman, va 1 / Malin Broman, va 2 / Malin Broman, vc 1 / Malin Broman vc 2
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Episode 79: Iris Zhulla on bow repair and restoration
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Luthier and bow maker Iris Zhulla features in The Strad March issue Trade Secrets with a step-by-step guide on repairing a bow thumb groove with epoxy and modelling clay. Iris speaks about the importance of repairing, restoring and preserving our bows, given the precarious situation of pernambuco wood at the moment. Rather than writing off bows that require extensive surgery, Iris advocates repair whenever possible, as well as better education for players, students and their parents on simple, everyday habits we can instil to keep our bows in better health for longer.
Learn about and donate to Alliance-USA here: https://www.alliance-usa.org/donate/
Watch Lynn Hannings speak about the pernambuco crisis: CITES changes and ramifications at the Women in Lutherie Conference 2022 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPSO51H33DM
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Episode 78: Seth Parker Woods on practising octaves for cellists
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
The technique of playing double-stopped octaves can strike fear into the hearts of many a cellist – it certainly can be a daunting and overwhelming concept for players. But it doesn’t have to be. Here to give his tips on practising and teaching octaves for cellists, as well as how to avoid ‘mental catastrophising’ is Seth Parker Woods. Seth is a Grammy-nominated cellist who is assistant professor of practice - Cello and Chamber Music at Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California, and he provides a Technique article in our brand new March issue on this topic.
Seth’s album Difficult Grace will be released on 14 April on Cedille Records.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Allemande
Suite for Solo Cello in G major BWV 1007
Johann Sebastian Bach
Seth Parker Woods, cello
Recorded by Sang Wook ’Sunny’ Nam at Jacob’s Well Mastering
Photo credit: Michael Yu
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Episode 77: 2023 Sphinx Competition winner Njioma Grevious
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Fresh from her Senior Division victory at this year’s Sphinx Competition is violinist Njioma Grevious, who speaks with online editor Davina Shum about competitions and performance. She shares her chosen preparation strategies, what helps her embody the character of the piece she’s playing on stage, as well as her hopes for her future career. Plus, what can string players learn from flute players?
Watch Njioma’s performance of the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Violin Concerto in the Sphinx Competition Senior Division finals here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9D65zvapo0&list=PL5BN_oivpxmQFFkf2xh4RNCB7TZk_GJKt
Other podcast episodes you may like:
Listen: The Strad Podcast Episode #34: Maria Ioudenitch on her competition success
Listen: The Strad Podcast Episode #17: Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider on competitions
Listen: The Strad Podcast #13: Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier on dealing with performance anxiety
Photo credit: Jiyang Chen
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB
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Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Episode 76: Violist Nick Revel on practising scales
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
How do you feel about scales? Many people would agree that they play a necessary part in our musical education as string players, though most people will have had mixed feelings about implementing them in practice.
Violist of the PUBLIQuartet, composer and educator Nick Revel speaks to online editor Davina Shum about the role of scales in his playing, both past and present. Nick has devised a play-along tool for practising scales and arpeggios called DragonScales and he shares what this scale system can offer the modern player.
Find out more about DragonScales here. Sheet music is available here.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Fly Trap
Dream Collider
Nick Revel
Sapphire Records
Photo credit: Ryan Scherb