Editor’s lettereditor The study of instruments has come a

ContributorsFELIPE AVELLAR DE AQUINO (Villa-Lobos and the cello,

SOUNDPOSTLetters, emails, online comments

A rickety career ladderNews and events from around the world this month

OBITUARIESLEV EVGRAFOV Russian cellist and pedagogue Lev Evgrafov

No time like the presentPREMIERE of the MONTH

COMPETITIONSMaría Dueñas DUEÑAS PHOTO TAM LAN TRUONG.

Tough enough to travelDOUBLE BASS CASE

MUSIC TO MY EARSOrganum’s updated app can import sheet music as

BETTER TOGETHERKinsman has created a new microphone kit for

Life lessonsThe principal violist of the London Sinfonietta on the importance of reassessing our musical opinions and the necessity of rethinking music education

THE HEIR APPARENTCARLO BERGONZI 1735 ‘BARON KNOOP’ VIOLIN

Measure for measureCARLO BERGONZI 1735 ‘BARON KNOOP’ VIOLIN

AT HEART A FUGUEThree centuries ago, Bach had completed his set of six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin. In the first of two articles, Lewis Kaplan, senior member of the Juilliard School faculty, discusses interpretation of the three sonatas with reference to Bach’s autograph score

A VOICE FOR BRAZILHeitor Villa-Lobos began his musical career as a cellist and wrote numerous works for the instrument, including the monumental Second Cello Concerto. However, his primary interest lay in promoting the folk traditions of his Brazilian homeland rather than advancing the cello’s virtuoso repertoire, writes Felipe Avellar de Aquino

WAXING LYRICALViolist Timothy Ridout’s recording of Schumann and Prokofiev transcriptions was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with a favourite vocal work from his childhood, as he tells

THE WAY OF THE FUTUREIn the second of two articles on violin making in China, Sisi Ye examines the schools teaching the art of lutherie to young people, where tuition can last up to ten years and a grounding in music theory is essential

SOVEREIGN VOICEMarius May, who died last year, led the generation of British cellists that emerged after Jacqueline du Pré. Here, Simon May tells the story of his younger brother’s astonishing flowering as a teenage musical talent, and his eventual decision to withdraw from performing life

SAMUEL NEMESSÁNYIIN FOCUS

An easy system for making a template and a mouldTRADE SECRETS

MY SPACEA peek into lutherie workshops around the world

Thank you for sharingPoints of interest to violin and bow makers

BRAHMS VIOLA SONATA OP.120 NO.1MASTERCLASS

Jazz soloing on the double bassTECHNIQUE

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

RECORDINGSBACH Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord

BOOKSThe King of Violins: The Extraordinary Life of

From the ARCHIVEWAKE UP, AMATEURS! A CALL TO AMATEUR MUSICIANS

IN THE NEXT ISSUEEsther Yoo The American violinist on her

ROGER TAPPINGListening to Brahms’s String Sextet no.1 op.18 is one of the earliest memories of the Juilliard Quartet violist – and might even be the reason why he took up the viola