What are the characteristics of a baroque bow?
Baroque bows generally look straight or bent slightly outwards in the middle, with an elegant “swan-bill” pointed head. Typically made from strong, heavy snakewood, bows of the early 17th century were used to play both violins and violas. They were particularly short and light and well-suited for dance music.
How much does a baroque bow cost?
A professionally made baroque bow can cost around $2,000 – $3,000; relatively cheap, but too expensive for a student. Amazon and Ebay are awash with cheap “baroque” bows ranging in price from about $50 –$200, and Shar Music sells them for $200, though they are often on sale for less.
How is the baroque bow different?
In simplest terms, the Baroque bow wood was a flat or convex shape and shorter than the modern bow, which is longer and has a concave shape. Baroque bows performed best at the era’s dance music, where the first beat of the music was heavier and the second beat light. You can’t modernize a bow.”
Why is the frog on the bow called that?
In German, the bottom of a horse’s hoof is called the “frosch.” The “frog” of a horse hoof is a small area toward the rear of the hoof that acts as a shock absorber. Since a bow’s frog is located at the bottom of the bow and also acts a shock absorber, this may be the reason for its name.
What are Baroque bows made of?
snakewood
They are typically made from strong, heavy snakewood. By contrast, a modern bow is made from pernambuco and has a marked inwards bend, particularly when the hair is relaxed, and has a “hatchet” head at right-angles to the stick. Bows underwent more changes within the Baroque period than did violins.
What is a baroque bow?
Baroque bows generally look straight or bent slightly outwards in the middle, with an elegant “swan-bill” pointed head. They are typically made from strong, heavy snakewood. Bows of the earlier 17th century were used interchangeably between violins and viols.
What is the heel of the bow?
frog
The frog is the heaviest part of the bow and often has decoration (such as a little white circle in the middle, often made from mother-of-pearl on expensive bows). The frog is also referred to as “the heel” by the French and is where one holds the bow (more on this in the next article).
Who invented the Baroque bow?
François Tourte
It was in response to this continued desire for longer, more legato playing that the inward curve was introduced in the mid 18th-century, and the modern bow derives from designs made by François Tourte in the later 18th century.