Here's a very interesting conversation with Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa about his new heartthrob, a 1767 cello by Nicolo Gagliano and how he jumped straight into the performance deep end when it was offered to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0RnWFGoxig

This is one episode in an ongoing series about how string players relate to their instruments. The interviewer, Masumi Rostad is an in-demand violist whom I met some years ago when I was recording a chamber music festival where he was featured.

I've only played a few pieces from Bach 1 to 4, preludes and a few from 1 and 2, and most of 3 and 4.

But this 4 Gigue feels so difficult! The melodic patterns are... weird? Those bariolage-like anchored notes don't work at all in Eb major. I need to either make dodgy shifts constantly, or play at a position a bit high. Overall it's hard to maintain a constant flow, but the music is written such that it *needs* a constant flow. Other pieces in 4 are fine because they are slower or don't jump up and down much. 4 Gigue is weird lol

And no, suite 5 and 6 are not something I'd get my hands on for now 😅

So my issue: I'm using MuseScore and the solo cello pizzicato at mezzo-piano and below is inaudible. That's, of course, the software's issue, but I have to wonder, when playing pizzicato how do you judge the dynamics in relation to arco? I naively expect, if the same dynamic is written, it should sound roughly equivalent. But my understanding is that by its nature pizzicato is quieter in relation to sustained sound, so at some point, in the fff regions it's going to be impossible. Or you get into the Bartok pizzicato regions.

I don't know if what I've written makes sense, but to wrap up, should I have separate dynamics for arco and pizzicato sections?

I’m buying a new case soon and I’d love to install a Fiedler backpack system on it but I don’t have the tools to do it myself. I know Thomann sells Gewa Air cases with Fielder backpack system already installed but the color that I want will take quite a while until it’s in stock.

Is there a strings shop in Manchester that can install the system onto my case for a fee?