Technique: Early music articulation for modern instrumentalists

Ariadne

How to use Baroque bow techniques to build variety, lightness and flow into every phrase

Since the 19th century, string players have developed such a focus on beautiful sostenuto playing and smooth bow changes that articulation used by earlier players has become lost, forgotten or even disdained. That articulation, however, was an integral part of earlier musical language. The subtleties of early bow control can help us to give life to early music even when we use modern instruments and bows.

It is not my aim to imitate the Baroque violin on a modern instrument: I want to embrace my modern violin’s beauty and strength. My wish is to bring out the best of modern instruments while also doing justice to historical music…

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