Editor’s letterIt is self-evident that becoming an accomplished string

Contributors(Trade Secrets, page 60) has been working as a bow

SOUNDPOSTLetters, emails, online comments

On the beatNews and events from around the world this month

NEW PRODUCTSSitting on a stool, most bassists will rest the instrument

Life lessonsThe British cellist, composer and founder of new music group Apartment House on John Cage and how visual art helped to open his mind

Playing it for a queenThis year’s Queen Elisabeth Compeiion in Belgium was devoted to the violin, and showcased a set of distinct and accomplished performances by the twelve ffinalists, as Tim omfray reports

Blaze of gloryAt the Montreal Internaional Musical Compeiion, Tom Stewart heard a winning performance full of fire among a seriously impressive field of contestants

IRREPRESSIBLE DRIVESouth African-born double bassist Leon Bosch has held top orchestral posts and performed as a soloist on multiple international stages since arriving in the UK in 1982. But, as he tells Kimon Daltas, now is not the time to rest on his laurels, as new works and new challenges await

NORTHERN LIGHTSThe 19th century witnessed a thriving double bass making scene in the Manchester area of England. This northern school, which had its own distinct style points, flourished for a longer time than its southern counterpart, as Thomas Martin, Martin Lawrence and George Martin explain

Social harmonyViolinist Leonidas Kavakos this year presented his eighth Musical Horizons Conservatory masterclass series. Toby Deller attended the three-day event in Athens, during which Kavakos proved himself to be not only an intelligent and dedicated teacher, but also an advocate of social cohesion and personal responsibility through music

MUSIC OF THE SPHERESIn an age of little numeracy or literacy, how did luthiers settle on the proportions of stringed instruments, with hardly any variation in their basic design? François Denis shows how the principles of the classical Greeks – notably Pythagoras – informed their thinking

TESTAMENT TO VERSATILITYAustrian violinist and violist Eduard Melkus turned 90 last year. Tully Potter speaks to colleagues, former pupils and the man himself – and outlines a far more diverse and varied career than his reputation for early music performance would suggest

ANDREA GUARNERIAndrea Guarneri was the patriarch of one of the most

Making a Tourte-style eyeHow to use gold, tortoiseshell and abalone in copies of works by the ‘father of the modern bow’

LUKAS KEHNENAs far as I know, I’m still the only violin maker in

Keep the wolf from the doorJoseph Curtin describes a quick and simple method for violinists to eliminate a wolf tone on their instrument, along with the science behind it.

MENDELSSOHN CELLO SONATA NO.2Johannes Moser takes a look at tempo, dynamics and the relaionship between instruments in the exciing and energeic irst movement of the D major op.58 Sonata

Walking bassEssenial foundaions for producing a jazz bass-line with good sound, rhythm and harmony

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

From the ARCHIVEViolinist Mavis Bacca Dowden reports from the fourth edition of the Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition, where Jaime Laredo was victorious and Joseph Silverstein came third

IN THE NEXT ISSUEThe players discuss their mentors and passing their

BARRY GUYThe Briish double bassist recalls his irst encounters with Iannis Xenakis’s solo work Theraps – including some frank exchanges with the composer himself