Journal
Writing on instruments, proportion, sound, and the musical ideas that shape the work.
Violoncello da Spalla: Maker, Modern Revival, and Commissioning
Learn what a violoncello da spalla is, how its modern revival began, and how to commission one. Dmitry Badiarov has built violoncelli da spalla since the revival began in 2003–2004 for professional violinists and violists seeking a serious shoulder-held bass instrument for performance, recordings, and concert tours.
The Violoncello da Spalla Problem: Acoustics, Playability, and Stringing
Many modern violoncello da spalla instruments struggle because the problem is not scale alone. Acoustics, playability, stringing, proportion, and performance use must belong to one coherent system.
Baroque Violin Maker: What Serious Musicians Actually Mean
Discover what defines a serious baroque violin—and why some instruments transform how you play, while others only reproduce the surface—and why experienced musicians recognise the difference immediately.
The Architecture of Memory
A lesson from Mark Komissarov on practice, memory, and musical intelligence: why focused work, bodily feedback, and life outside the practice room shape both performance and instrument making.
When a Voice Is Taken Away
When a musician depends on a loaned instrument, artistic continuity remains vulnerable to decisions outside their control. This essay reflects on ownership, patronage, continuity, and the value of commissioning an instrument that can remain with the player.
When Research Learns to Breathe
From early instrument-making encounters in Kabardino-Balkaria to the 2004 violoncello da spalla revival, the 2007 Galpin Society article, and later performance use with La Petite Bande.