5 String Theory is a practical attempt to answer the question - what is the next evolutionary step for violin? Already in the 19th century violin technique reached nearly the threshold of what humans can play with their bare hands. And when it was not humanly possible anymore to play faster and louder, new technology came to help. In today’s world of digital wonder it’s possible to process your own sound live on stage with sound effects, record loops and sculpt sonic structures that were unimaginable before. And this is exactly how 5 String Theory music is being created. 

 

Behind 5 String Theory stands an experimental violinist Alexey Kochetkov. A musician since childhood, he received a European classical education in violin and composition, but quickly realised that this traditional path is not the one he’s about to walk. Discovering a five-string violin and merging it with electronic music tools gave Alexey a possibility to create his own musical universe.

 

It so historically happened that four string violins established themselves as a canon. As a result of it all the music that was written for violin in the last few hundreds years was written for four string violins. The four string violin range goes only as low as the note G. However, looking at the instrument from an absolute perspective, it makes perfect sense to have one additional string that allows the F E D and C tones to complete the scale in the lower range. Since there is almost no written repertoire for five-string violin, Alexey composes his own pieces and arranges existing works from classical, folk and pop music. Check the sheet music and recordings for five string violin here.
 

Alexey began experimenting with five string violin and electronics around 2018. In June 2018 5 String Theory released his first full length YouTube video Summer Particle. It was noticed by the renowned circus group Gravity and Other Myths and from autumn 2018 and until the beginning of the covid pandemic he was touring with the as a part of the Backbone performance. Later 5 String Theory music was noticed by the film and theater director Amos Gitai. Alexey composed soundtracks for the films Laila in Haifa (2022), Shikun (2024) and Why War (2025), which were shown at Venice film festival and Berlinale. 

 

As an independent artist 5 String Theory produced unique concert programs and performances. In 2022 for the official opening of the Ballhaus Wedding (as for the name of the neighbourhood in Berlin) Alexey created a multidisciplinary performance Classical Dreams in a Digital Age that presented classical pieces in new electronic sounds aside his own composition. In 2023 The Theory of Everything came to life, where scientific ideas of quantum and astrophysics were merged with the music for violin and electronics. In the years 2024 and 2025 Alexey collaborated together with the composer and researcher Andrey Bundin. Together they have produced a series of concerts for violin and electronics in immersive 3D-sound that were presented in Berlin, Hannover and Braunschweig. Besides that 5 String Theory was invited to play at Q3 Ambientfest (2023), Per Anhalter Festival (2024), Garbicz Festival (2022, 2023, 2025), Faiths in Tune (2025), Sanctum of Sound series in Mahalla (Berlin), The Lighthouse of Digital Art and Organysmo light installation that took place Monopol Berlin. 

 

5 String Theory is inspired by the spirit of experiment, pushing boundaries and exploring what else is possible that has not yet been done yet. Finding new ways to create new music with violin. From acoustic solo programs, through DJ-sets and immersive sound journeys, to theatrical performances, it aspires to blend centuries-long violin tradition with contemporary music aesthetics and reach new heights of technical possibilities and emotional  expression.