Archetier
Encyclopedia
A bow maker is a person who builds, repairs, and restores ancient or modern bow
s for instruments of the violin family. These include violin
s, viola
s, cello
s, double basses, viola d'amore
, viola da gamba, etc.
The French word for bowmaker (bow maker) is archetier for one who makes bows
of the string family of instruments such as violin
, viola
, cello
and double bass
.
Root of the word comes from archet—pronounced aʁʃɛ—the bow.
A bow maker typically uses between 150 and 200 hairs from the tail of a horse for a violin bow. Bows for other members of the violin family typically have a wider ribbon, using more hairs. White hair generally produces a smoother sound and black hair (used mainly for double bass bows) is coarser, producing a rougher sound. Lower quality (inexpensive) bows often use nylon or synthetic hair. Rosin, a hard, sticky substance made from resin (sometimes mixed with wax), is regularly applied to the bow hair to increase friction.
In making a bow, the greater part of the woodworking is done on a straight stick. According to James McKean, "the bow maker graduates the stick in precise gradations so that it is evenly flexible throughout." These gradations were calculated by François Tourte
, discussed below.
In order to shape the curve or "camber" of the bow stick, the maker carefully heats the stick in an alcohol flame, a few inches at a time, bending the heated stick gradually to the proper shape. A metal or wooden template is used to get the exact model's curve and shape while heating.
More on Manufacturing of the Bow
Up until the standardization of the bow by François Tourte
c1785, most bows with rare exceptions remained anonymous (before 1750).
And although François Tourte attained an enormous measure of fame in his own lifetime, the tradition of the anonymous bow maker was still so strong that theorists like Woldemar and Fetis called Tourte's new-model bow not the Tourte bow but the Viotti
bow, after his contemporary the violinist. (After his father's death, Tourte, in collaboration with the violin virtuoso G. B. Viotti
, made important changes in the form of the bow in the Classical period between 1785 and 1790. They lengthened them slightly, to 74 – 75 centimetres, and used more wood in the tip and a heavier nut.)
With the dawn of a new era in the introduction of the modern bow design by François Tourte
, so too was the importance placed on the bow maker rather than the luthier to produce such playing tools.
"The fact that bows are ascribed not to makers but to famous violinists (who were often composers as well) underlines the point that, with rare exceptions, bow makers remained anonymous before 1750.
Quite probably the man who made the violin often made the bow or had it made in his shop: I have already indicated that Stradivari almost certainly made bows or had them made for him. After 1750, some makers began to identify themselves by stamping their names on bows-generally on the stick, sometimes on the frog, occasionally on both (as in some Dodd bows). Tourte pere, whom we now believe to be Louis Tourte, stamped a few bows c 1750 with the distinctive TOURTE-L but Francois Tourte (his more famous son), whose first standardized bows date from c 1785, rarely stamped his. Although Francois attained an enormous measure of fame in his own lifetime, the tradition of the anonymous bow maker was still so strong that theorists like Woldemar and Fetis called Tourte's new-model bow not the Tourte bow but the Viotti bow, after his contemporary the violinist."- David Boyden
, the 18th- century violin virtuoso who is rumored to have consulted with Tourte on the bow’s formulation, to declare: Le violon, c’est l’archet - the violin, it is the bow.
The bow is so crucial that much of the music of Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert and their musical heirs would not be performable without it...."
"The French bow maker François-Xavier Tourte
, more commonly known as François Tourte or Tourte le jeune, is often referred to as "the inventor of the modern bow," or "the Stradivari of the bow." His bows, dating from the end of the eighteenth century and the early decades of the nineteenth, had a marked effect upon the timbre of violins and upon performance practice, enabling new forms of expression and articulation to be developed, and in particular, facilitating the increased use of legato. François Joseph Fétis's entry in the second, expanded edition of his Biographie universelle des musiciens et bibliographie générale de la musique (1860–65) has until recently been the only source of biographical information about François Tourte. Some thirty documents recently discovered in French archives provide further fresh insight into this maker's life and work."
Stewart Pollens,
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
"Tourte - French family of bowmakers and luthiers. It Nicolas Pierre Tourte and his sons Nicolas Léonard and François Xavier and perhaps Charles Tourte, son of Nicolas Léonard. In addition, at least two channelled (canalé) bows dating from about 1750–60 exist bearing the brand-stamp A.TOURTE." - Paul Childs
Bow (music)
In music, a bow is moved across some part of a musical instrument, causing vibration which the instrument emits as sound. The vast majority of bows are used with string instruments, although some bows are used with musical saws and other bowed idiophones....
s for instruments of the violin family. These include violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s, viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
s, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
s, double basses, viola d'amore
Viola d'amore
The viola d'amore is a 7- or 6-stringed musical instrument with sympathetic strings used chiefly in the baroque period. It is played under the chin in the same manner as the violin.- Structure and sound :...
, viola da gamba, etc.
The French word for bowmaker (bow maker) is archetier for one who makes bows
Bow (music)
In music, a bow is moved across some part of a musical instrument, causing vibration which the instrument emits as sound. The vast majority of bows are used with string instruments, although some bows are used with musical saws and other bowed idiophones....
of the string family of instruments such as violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
.
Root of the word comes from archet—pronounced aʁʃɛ—the bow.
A bow maker typically uses between 150 and 200 hairs from the tail of a horse for a violin bow. Bows for other members of the violin family typically have a wider ribbon, using more hairs. White hair generally produces a smoother sound and black hair (used mainly for double bass bows) is coarser, producing a rougher sound. Lower quality (inexpensive) bows often use nylon or synthetic hair. Rosin, a hard, sticky substance made from resin (sometimes mixed with wax), is regularly applied to the bow hair to increase friction.
In making a bow, the greater part of the woodworking is done on a straight stick. According to James McKean, "the bow maker graduates the stick in precise gradations so that it is evenly flexible throughout." These gradations were calculated by François Tourte
François Tourte
François Xavier Tourte was a Frenchman who, though trained as a watchmaker, soon changed to making bows for playing classical string instruments such as the violin....
, discussed below.
In order to shape the curve or "camber" of the bow stick, the maker carefully heats the stick in an alcohol flame, a few inches at a time, bending the heated stick gradually to the proper shape. A metal or wooden template is used to get the exact model's curve and shape while heating.
More on Manufacturing of the Bow
History
François Tourte
François Xavier Tourte was a Frenchman who, though trained as a watchmaker, soon changed to making bows for playing classical string instruments such as the violin....
c1785, most bows with rare exceptions remained anonymous (before 1750).
And although François Tourte attained an enormous measure of fame in his own lifetime, the tradition of the anonymous bow maker was still so strong that theorists like Woldemar and Fetis called Tourte's new-model bow not the Tourte bow but the Viotti
Giovanni Battista Viotti
Giovanni Battista Viotti was an Italian violinist whose virtuosity was famed and whose work as a composer featured a prominent violin and an appealing lyrical tunefulness...
bow, after his contemporary the violinist. (After his father's death, Tourte, in collaboration with the violin virtuoso G. B. Viotti
Giovanni Battista Viotti
Giovanni Battista Viotti was an Italian violinist whose virtuosity was famed and whose work as a composer featured a prominent violin and an appealing lyrical tunefulness...
, made important changes in the form of the bow in the Classical period between 1785 and 1790. They lengthened them slightly, to 74 – 75 centimetres, and used more wood in the tip and a heavier nut.)
With the dawn of a new era in the introduction of the modern bow design by François Tourte
François Tourte
François Xavier Tourte was a Frenchman who, though trained as a watchmaker, soon changed to making bows for playing classical string instruments such as the violin....
, so too was the importance placed on the bow maker rather than the luthier to produce such playing tools.
"The fact that bows are ascribed not to makers but to famous violinists (who were often composers as well) underlines the point that, with rare exceptions, bow makers remained anonymous before 1750.
Quite probably the man who made the violin often made the bow or had it made in his shop: I have already indicated that Stradivari almost certainly made bows or had them made for him. After 1750, some makers began to identify themselves by stamping their names on bows-generally on the stick, sometimes on the frog, occasionally on both (as in some Dodd bows). Tourte pere, whom we now believe to be Louis Tourte, stamped a few bows c 1750 with the distinctive TOURTE-L but Francois Tourte (his more famous son), whose first standardized bows date from c 1785, rarely stamped his. Although Francois attained an enormous measure of fame in his own lifetime, the tradition of the anonymous bow maker was still so strong that theorists like Woldemar and Fetis called Tourte's new-model bow not the Tourte bow but the Viotti bow, after his contemporary the violinist."- David Boyden
Quotes
"Giovanni Battista ViottiGiovanni Battista Viotti
Giovanni Battista Viotti was an Italian violinist whose virtuosity was famed and whose work as a composer featured a prominent violin and an appealing lyrical tunefulness...
, the 18th- century violin virtuoso who is rumored to have consulted with Tourte on the bow’s formulation, to declare: Le violon, c’est l’archet - the violin, it is the bow.
The bow is so crucial that much of the music of Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert and their musical heirs would not be performable without it...."
"The French bow maker François-Xavier Tourte
François Tourte
François Xavier Tourte was a Frenchman who, though trained as a watchmaker, soon changed to making bows for playing classical string instruments such as the violin....
, more commonly known as François Tourte or Tourte le jeune, is often referred to as "the inventor of the modern bow," or "the Stradivari of the bow." His bows, dating from the end of the eighteenth century and the early decades of the nineteenth, had a marked effect upon the timbre of violins and upon performance practice, enabling new forms of expression and articulation to be developed, and in particular, facilitating the increased use of legato. François Joseph Fétis's entry in the second, expanded edition of his Biographie universelle des musiciens et bibliographie générale de la musique (1860–65) has until recently been the only source of biographical information about François Tourte. Some thirty documents recently discovered in French archives provide further fresh insight into this maker's life and work."
Stewart Pollens,
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
"Tourte - French family of bowmakers and luthiers. It Nicolas Pierre Tourte and his sons Nicolas Léonard and François Xavier and perhaps Charles Tourte, son of Nicolas Léonard. In addition, at least two channelled (canalé) bows dating from about 1750–60 exist bearing the brand-stamp A.TOURTE." - Paul Childs
See also
- PernambucoBrazilwoodCaesalpinia echinata is a species of Brazilian timber tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include Brazilwood, Pau-Brasil, Pau de Pernambuco and Ibirapitanga . This plant has a dense, orange-red heartwood that takes a high shine, and it is the premier wood used for making bows for...
- Saving the Music Tree
- Playing the violin, section on "Bowing techniques"
- RosinRosin.Rosin, also called colophony or Greek pitch , is a solid form of resin obtained from pines and some other plants, mostly conifers, produced by heating fresh liquid resin to vaporize the volatile liquid terpene components. It is semi-transparent and varies in color from yellow to black...
- String instrument, section on "Bowing"
- Musical bowMusical bowThe musical bow is a simple string musical instrument most archaic cultures as well as in many in the present day. It consisting of a string supported by a flexible stick 1.5 to 10 feet long, and strung end to end with a taut cord. Usually made out of wood...
, musical instrument
Bow Makers
- Jean Adam (bow maker)Jean Adam (bow maker)Jean Adam was a Master French bow maker known as "Grand Adam" .His bows are highly sought after.Jean was born in Mirecourt February 26, 1823....
- Jean Dominique AdamJean Dominique AdamJean Dominique Adam was an illustrious French Archetier / Bowmaker. Son of, Jean Adam , who was also a bowmaker ....
- Ludwig BauschLudwig BauschLudwig Christian August Bausch - an illustrious German Bogenmacher / Bow maker. He became known as the "German Tourte"....
- Bazin FamilyBazin FamilyBazin Family / Bazin Dynasty.Highly esteemed family of bowmakers operating in Mirecourt, France, from around 1840 through most of the 1900s, produced bows in Mirecourt....
- François Xavier BazinFrançois Xavier BazinFrançois-Xavier Bazin was a French archetier and bow maker and was first of the Bazin dynasty.Bazin was born in Mirecourt. Notable experts suggest that he was influenced and purportedly studied with Dominique Peccatte in Paris, then established himself in Mirecourt around 1840.He was brother of...
- Arthur BultitudeArthur BultitudeArthur Richard Bultitude was an English musical instrument bow maker, who spent much of his life working as a craftsman for the firm of W.E. Hill & Sons....
- Fetique (bow makers)Fetique (bow makers)Fetique was a family of French bow makers, notable members include Victor Francois Fetique, Jules Fetique both of whom were awarded «Un des Meilleur Ouvrier de France» and Marcel Gaston Fetique.- Family :...
- Jules FetiqueJules FetiqueJules FÉTIQUE was a prominent French Archetier / Bowmaker from a family of makers....
- Marcel Gaston FetiqueMarcel Gaston FetiqueMarcel Gaston Fetique - was a French Archetier / Bowmaker from a family of makers.Moved to Paris with his family when he was two years of age...
- Victor FetiqueVictor FetiqueVictor Francois FETIQUE was a prominent French Archetier / Bowmaker from a family of makers.Victor, son of Charles-Claude Fetique . Learned his craft in Mirecourt with Husson , Maline et Miquel .Later went on to work for Charles Nicolas Bazin II in 1901, before joining Caressa & Francais...
- Joseph FonclauseJoseph FonclauseJoseph Fonclause was a French archetier /bow maker.He was trained by Dominique Peccatte in Mirecourt and in 1820 went to Paris to work for Lupot, Tourte and Vuillaume....
- Joseph Henry (bow maker)Joseph Henry (bow maker)Joseph Henry was a French bow maker for string instruments.Henry studied with Dominique Peccatte and established his own shop in 1851. His bows are quite rare and sought after...
- Nicolaus KittelNicolaus KittelNicolaus Kittel, fully Nikolai Ferdinandovich Kittel was a Russian bow maker who until recently thought to be of German origin, and was known as the "Russian Tourte"....
- Heinrich KnopfHeinrich KnopfHeinrich Carl Knopf was an illustrious German Bogenmacher / Bowmaker.He came from a dynasty of great makers. Studied bow making in Markneukirchen under Christian Knopf ....
- Lamy (bow makers)Lamy (bow makers)Lamy was a family of French bow makers, notable members include Alfred Lamy, Joseph Alfred Lamy, and Hippolyte Camille Lamy.-References:* Dictionnaire Universel del Luthiers - Rene Vannes 1951,1972, 1985...
- Alfred LamyAlfred LamyAlfred Lamy was a French maker of bows.Son of Joseph Jean Baptiste Lamy was born in Mirecourt, Vosges, France. He was apprenticed in Mirecourt with Bazin and later worked for Cuniot-Hury.Lamy established his own business around 1919....
- Joseph Alfred LamyJoseph Alfred LamyJoseph Alfred Lamy , was an important French archetier of the early twentieth century known as Lamy Père.He was born in Mirecourt, Vosges, France where he apprenticed from 1862-1868, and later worked from 1877 to 1885 for François Nicolas Voirin in Paris.He started his apprenticeship in 1862...
- Marcel Lapierre
- Nicolas Remy MaireNicolas Remy MaireNicolas Rémy Marie was an illustrious French Archetier - Bow Maker.He trained in the Lafleur workshop and served his apprenticeship in the workshop of Pajeot in Mirecourt. Maire's style remained close to that of Pajeot.He opened his own workshop in Mirecourt in 1826 and left in 1853 to work in...
- Nicolas MalineNicolas MalineNicolas Maline was a luthier and an archetier/bow maker.He was apprenticed in Mirecourt and worked for Etienne Pajeot, J.B...
- Jean Joseph MartinJean Joseph MartinJean Joseph Martin - was a French Archetier / Bowmaker.Served his apprenticeship with Nicolas Remy Maire.In 1858 left Mirecourt for Paris to join Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume's workshop...
- Morizot FamilyMorizot FamilyMorizot was a family of French bow makers, notable members include Louis Morizot & his five sons who trained with him and then succeeded him renaming the firm MORIZOT Frères....
- Louis MorizotLouis Morizot-Biography:Louis was born in Darney , and worked in Mirecourt, France where he started a family dynasty.Louis Morizot began his apprenticeship with Eugene Cuniot-Hury, before joining the workshop of Charles Nicolas BAZIN....
- Jean-Jacques MillantJean-Jacques MillantJean-Jacques Millant was an influential French bow maker/archetier of the Dominique Peccatte school.His cousin, Bernard Millant produced bows similar in style...
- Bernard OuchardBernard OuchardBernard Ouchard was a French master bow maker and teacher in the School of Violin and Bowmaking of Mirecourt, France...
- Emile Auguste OuchardEmile Auguste OuchardEmile Auguste Ouchard was a French bow maker of repute and son and pupil of Emile Francois Ouchard. Honors & awards include the Grand Prix of the 1942 International Paris Exhibition.-Biography:...
- Emile Francois OuchardEmile Francois OuchardEmile Francois Ouchard was a bow maker for stringed instruments / Archetier from Mirecourt, Vosges, France. Ouchard was also known as "Ouchard Père".-Biography:...
- Etienne PajeotEtienne PajeotEtienne Pajeot [Pageot], was an illustrious French Archetier / Bowmaker.-Biography:Son of, Louis Simon , who was also a bowmaker. Pajeot was a student, then a business partner of Nicolas Remy Maire.He produced excellent bows."Pajeot remains one of the most brilliant crafstmen of his generation...
- Charles PeccatteCharles PeccatteCharles Peccatte was a French Archetier . He was born in Mirecourt, the son of François Peccatte.He was probably trained by August Lenoble with whom he later had a partnership which lasted until 1881....
- Dominique PeccatteDominique PeccatteDominique Peccatte was an influential French luthier and bow maker. He was apprenticed in Mirecourt and later worked with Jean Baptiste Vuillaume....
- François PeccatteFrançois PeccatteFrançois Peccatte was a very talented and excellent archetier / bow maker who was destined for greatness, but he died at the age of 34 before he was able to reach the height of his craft...
- Keith PeckKeith PeckKeith M. Peck was a highly acclaimed American bow maker from Evanston, Illinois. His bows are used on instruments such as those created by master makers Giuseppe Guarneri, Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Giovanni Grancino, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, and many others.Peck began playing cello at age...
- Jean Pierre Marie PersoisJean Pierre Marie PersoisJean Pierre Marie Persoit [Persois] - was a great and intriguing French bowmaker or Archetier.One of the first bowmakers to be hired by the young Jean Baptiste Vuillaume....
- Andre RichaumeAndre RichaumeAndré Georges Richaume was a prominent French archetier and bowmaker, from a family of makers....
- Eugene SartoryEugene SartoryEugene Nicolas Sartory was an influential French archetier/ bow maker from Mirecourt, France.Normally spelled Eugène Sartory.After having first apprenticed with his father, he went on to work in Paris for Charles Peccatte and Joseph Alfred Lamy before setting up on his own shop in 1893.He...
- Pierre SimonPierre SimonPierre Simon , later known as Paul Simon, was a French archetier/bowmaker.Became one of the most important makers of his time. He worked in Paris for Peccatte, Vuillaume and Gand Frères. In 1847 he purchased Dominique Peccatte's business. His bows have 2 distinct head models, one his own and the...
- François TourteFrançois TourteFrançois Xavier Tourte was a Frenchman who, though trained as a watchmaker, soon changed to making bows for playing classical string instruments such as the violin....
- James TubbsJames TubbsJames Tubbs - one of the most celebrated English bow makers, and is considered "The English Tourte".Together with his son Alfred James Tubbs (b 1835-d 1921)- one of the most celebrated English bow makers, and is considered "The English Tourte".Together with his son Alfred James Tubbs (b 1835-d...
- Andre VigneronAndré VigneronAndré Vigneron b.1881 in Paris - d.1924 in Paris was a French Archetier / Bowmaker.André Vigneron learnt his craft with his father, Joseph Arthur Vigneron. He also worked in the workshop of Eugene Sartory. André succeeded his father in 1905.He used a personal model for the heads of his bows...
- Joseph Arthur VigneronJoseph Arthur VigneronJoseph Arthur Vigneron was an important French Archetier / Bowmaker.He served his apprenticeship with his stepfather Charles Claude Husson in Mirecourt, where he studied side by side with Joseph Alfred Lamy père , who was less than a year older than he was...
- Vigneron (bow makers)Vigneron (bow makers)Vigneron was a family of French bow makers, notable members include Joseph Arthur Vigneron and Andre Vigneron.-References:* Dictionnaire Universel del Luthiers - Rene Vannes 1951,1972, 1985...
- François Nicolas VoirinFrançois Nicolas VoirinFrançois Nicolas Voirin was a French Archetier , known in his time as the "Modern Tourte."F.N. Voirin was born in Paris France, the brother of Joseph Voirin and cousin to Jean Baptiste Vuillaume...
- Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume
List of contemporary bow makers
Famous Violinist's Bows
- Book about bow making
- Article about horse hair.
- Commissioning a bow.
- Mastering New Materials: Commissioning an Amber Bow, no.65
- Production of a carbon fiber bow
- eNotes article on the history and making of bows.