The magical world of composers’ handwriting

Composers’ hands (l-r): Felix Mendelssohn, R Schumann, Clara Schumann, Buxtehude, JS Bach, Beethoven

Liza Lim: sketch for A Sutured World

Baude Cordier: “Tout par compas”

From Emilio de’ Cavalieri’s Lamentations of Jeremiah (c.1590)

Sketch for Robert Schumann’s First Symphony

Excerpt from Lili Boulanger’s Faust et Hélène

By Lawrence Dunn, 17 December 2025

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“the hand-eye coordination puts you in a flow state”

Peter Quantrill, 7th April

The Austrian conductor reflects on his seven year tenure with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, work and life, returning to old scores, and why a musical ensemble is like a giant human body.

Bach transformed: Jean Rondeau on remaking the Goldberg Variations

Bachtrack, 1st April

Renowned harpsichordist Jean Rondeau presents a new view of Bach’s Goldberg Variations at this year’s Bachfest Schaffhausen, including in arrangement for Baroque ensemble, and as a new composition for piano, percussion and electronics inspired by the cycle.

Cristian Sandrin presents a new view of Mozart’s piano concertos

Bachtrack, 16th March

How to defamiliarize Mozart’s well known piano concertos? This April pianist Cristian Sandrin joins the London Mozart Players for new chamber arrangements of three concertos, for solo piano and string quartet.

Mahler’s First Symphony: José Moreira on climbing the mountain

Bachtrack, 3rd March

Principal contrabassist of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra talks about why Mahler’s restless and volatile First Symphony is a highlight of any orchestra season.

The music in mathematics: a conversation with Bertrand Maury

Laura Servidei, 22nd January

At the intersection of mathematics and music, the Festum Pi festival brings together theorists and performers to explore one of humanity’s oldest intellectual duets. We spoke with participant Professor Bertrand Maury, acclaimed mathematician and a concert pianist, about this enduring connection.

All in the family: Flanders Symphony’s new chief Martijn Dendievel

Lawrence Dunn, 15th January

The young Belgian conductor has had a long association with the Flanders Symphony – and this January he takes the chief’s baton from departing Kristiina Poska, who reaffirmed the orchestra’s crisp, classical sound.

Lawrence Dunn

Lawrence is commissioning editor at Bachtrack. He is a composer, improviser, pianist and writer. He has taught at Cambridge, Huddersfield and Sheffield universities. He has written music for, among others the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, Slagwerk Den Haag, Philip Thomas, Juliet Fraser, Ilya Gringolts, Plus-Minus, Exaudi, Apartment House and Explore Ensemble.

Traces and scratches: the magical world of composers’ handwriting