No. 278, June 2018

Chasing the Sound of Stuff Smith

How an obsession with the gear that helped Stuff Smith achieve his distinctive sound brought me closer to a musical idol, 50 years after his death

By David Schulman

Risk & Reward

Yuga Cohler on forging a career as a conductor in classical music and what Beethoven and Kanye West have in common

By Whitney Phaneuf

Anniversary of an Auspicious Start

100 years ago, a female impresario and forward-thinking conductor succeeded in Cleveland where many others had failed

By Brian Wise

SPECIAL FOCUS

Classical Works with Traditional Roots

How Béla Bartók Redefined Classical Music

Under the guise of complex art music, this composer and ethnomusicologist brought Hungarian peasant culture into the concert halls of Europe

By Greg Cahill

Argentine Soul

You’ll find folk music, rhythmic vitality, and guitar styles in Alberto Ginastera’s music—but very little tango

By Inge Kjemtrup

Musical Nationalism

Studying the effect of Norwegian folk music on Edvard Grieg’s three violin sonatas

By Brian Wise

Editor’s Note

News & Notes

The Eybler Quartet records on period instruments with an eye for specific tempo instructions; double bassist Draylen Mason killed in package explosion; plus Milestones; 5 Minutes with bow expert Stephan Jansen, and more

News Spotlight

Nashville Symphony premieres the first piece ever written specifically for the Violins of Hope

Letter From the Sea

Violist Drew Alexander Forde on the experience of taking his music to the sea

Shop Talk

David Rivinus on the power of distinctive violin making

What’s in the Case?

Cellist Mischa Maisky on his relationship with his 1720 Domenico Montagnana

Tales of the Trade

Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin tailor-makes each rosin to suit a musician’s needs

New Products

A trio of new products from BAM

On My Music Stand

Baroque violinist Monica Huggett on the poetic harmonies within Matteis’ ‘Alla Fantasia’

Tech Support

Is it possible to play with a straight bow?

My Studio

Sometimes students need space to find their own solutions

Stage & Studio

Find (or fashion) the right cello chair or double bass stool for you

REVIEWS

For the Record: The Ariel Quartet reflects on growing up together and the release of their first album. Onstage: Violinist Aisha Syed debuts at Carnegie Hall. In Print: The ‘poetic charm’ of Fauré’s penultimate work received praise from royalty, and more.