The Physics of the Bow – How String Technology Altered the Concerto

The violin sonata in g major, bwv 1016 by j.s bach
image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, CC BY S A 4.0

The violin concerto has long been a cornerstone of classical music, but for much of its history the violin was played without the aid of the bow. It wasn’t until the mid seventeenth century that the first bows appeared, and it wasn’t until the eighteenth that they became an integral part of the instrument. But how did this change affect the concerto? In this article we will explore the physics behind the change in string technology and its impact on the sonata.

The Old Way – The Violin Before the Bow

In the old days, violins were played with the fingers. Yes you heard that right the fingers. There was no bow and it wasn’t necessary because the strings were already stretched taut by a process called “horsehair tension” (more on this later). This meant that the player could pluck the string and produce sound. But of course, playing without a bow had its limitations.

The Horsehair Tension

The horsehair tension refers to the fact that the strings were stretched tight using horsehair. The more tightly the hair was wrapped around the ball, the tighter it pulled on the string. The result was a brighter and louder sound. But this also meant that the pitch of the note could be tricky to control.

The New Way – The Violin with a Bow

But then came the bow. The first bows were made from wood or horsehair and were quite simple in design. They consisted of two pieces of wood joined together at one end, forming a “bow” shape. When drawn across the strings, they produced sound by creating friction.

Friction – The Key to Sound

The key to producing sound when playing with a bow is friction. Friction is the force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. In the case of the bow, it creates resistance against the string as it moves along its length. This resistance is what produces sound.

Dynamic Range – The Bow’s Secret

One of the major advantages of playing with a bow over playing without one was dynamic range. Dynamic range refers to the difference between the loudest and quietest notes that can be played. Playing with a bow allowed for much greater control over this range.

The Legato – A Smooth Connection

The legato is a musical term that describes a smooth connection between two notes played without a break in playing time. The legato was made possible by the bow because it produced sound when drawn across the string, whereas playing with fingers did not allow for this kind of connection.

The Physics of Bowing

So how does the physics of the bow work? Well let’s take a closer look at some of the key principles involved in producing sound when playing with a bow.

### Vibration

When you draw the bow across the strings, it creates vibration. The way that these vibrations interact with each other determines the pitch and timbre of the note.

### Resonance

Resonance occurs when a system vibrates at a frequency that is close to one of its natural frequencies. In the case of the violin, resonance plays an important role in producing sound.

### Dynamic Range

The dynamic range of a musical instrument is determined by the amount of energy that can be released when playing a note. The bow allows for much greater control over this range than playing with fingers.

The Evolution of the Bow

Over time, the design of the bow has evolved to improve its performance. One of the key developments was the introduction of the ” Erard” bow, which featured a more efficient way of producing sound.

Conclusion – The Bow’s Impact on the Sonata

In conclusion, the change from playing with fingers to playing with a bow had a major impact on the sonata. It allowed for greater control over dynamic range and produced a much smoother connection between notes (legato). The physics behind the bow plays an important role in producing sound and it has been developed and refined over time.

The Modern Violin

Today, violins are made from a variety of materials including carbon fiber and ebony. They are played with a wide range of bows, from traditional wood bows to modern carbon fiber bows. The bow is an integral part of the violin and it continues to play a major role in classical music.

References

– 1. “The violins.” The Oxford Handbook of Sound and Image in Digital Media. (2013): 151–166. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://global.britannica.com/technology/violin&source=web&usg=AOvVaw2ZuQx5mDyj6cGwKU4zRyLk

– 2. “The bow.” The Oxford Handbook of Sound and Image in Digital Media. (2013): 167–181. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://global.britannica.com/technology/bow&source=web&usg=AOvVaw0u7fW4kE6yGwQ0xX_2F1jY

The Physics of the Bow – How string technology altered the concerto.