Leopold Auer (1845 – 1930), the great violin teacher who trained many early 20th century violinists, including Mischa Elman and Jascha Heifetz, wrote a short book called Violin Playing As I Teach It.
In discussing bow technique, Auer says “every great violinist of the close of the last century had each his own individual manner of holding the bow, since each one of them had a differently shaped and proportioned arm, muscles and fingers”. According to Auer, only repeated experimentation can lead the individual player to discover the best way to hold the bow. Of course there are basics that apply to everyone, but individual physical characteristics and preferences ultimately shape the bow-hold.
Bow Weight
Cello bows generally weigh between 65 and 80 grams. Cellist and pedagogue Leonard Rose (1918 – 1984) used heavier bows, up to 95 grams. Rose’s student, Yo-Yo Ma, used heavy bows at first but graduated to lighter bows as his approach changed. Lighter bows allow the cellist to draw sound from the cello through a combination of bow speed, arm weight and contact point (where bow-hair meets the string). Heavy bows press a loud sound from the cello but the sound is not as free and may not project as well. One of the greatest virtuoso cellists of the 20th century, Emanuel Feuermann (1902 – 1942), used bows of 65 grams or lighter.
I learned much of the above information on bow weight from bow makers, luthiers and instrument dealers in New York who repaired and restored bows for for top cellists of the late 20th century.
Balance Point
The bow’s balance point is an important factor and can make a light bow feel heavy or a heavy bow feel light. Individual physical characteristics and approach to bow technique determine preference. Each cellist knows their ideal bow weight and balance point and gets as close as possible to that ideal.
Last Word
In Cello Playing Of Today (published 1957), cellist Maurice Eisenberg states “The functions of bowing are complex and numerous”. He mentions continuity of tone as a fundamental role. Other roles of the bow: “giving colour, variety and character” through “articulation, accentuation, punctuation and inflection”.
For detailed discussion of the bow, join the Facebook group Victor Lawrence Cello.