The Evolution of the Bow

The primitive bow is still used in India today.  It is made of bamboo, convex-shaped, and the hair is clumsily fastened
at both ends with the tension permanent.

The prototype of the bow was brought into Europe by the Moors during the 8th century.  The Moors also improved
the primitive bows.  They gave them a head or point where the hair is fastened, and a rude frog fixed into a dovetailed
notch cut in the stick.  After various modifications through the Middle Ages, the convex bow-stick began to  assume a
more shapely appearance.  By the 17th century it had already reached a familiar form.. The stick appears round or
pentagonal and is made with a smaller head.

During the 17th century, the clumsy bows used by Corelli and Vivialdi were tightened and loosened by a contrivance
called “Cremalillere.”  This was a short, narrow band of metal divided into notches and fastened to the frog end of the
bow-stick.  A movable loop of iron or brass wire attached to the frog served to catch it to one of these notches, and in
this manner controlled the tension.

Subsequent evolution of the bow reached its highest point with the inventions and creations of the great Tourte
family.  The father, known as “Tourte pere”, worked I˜Paris between 1740-1775 and originated the idea which resulted
in the change of the bow-stick from the convex or “archer” type, to the concave form as we now know it.  The
invention of the sliding frog and screw is also ascribed to him.  These epoch-making changes later exercised the most
profound influence in the world of music.  His sons, Xavier Tourte and Francois, the greatest of the family, brought the
bow to a perfection never surpassed by any subsequent bow-maker.  Tourte bows are works of art.  They are still the
finest bows in existence.  Other renowned bow-makers are: Adam, Bazin, Bausch, Chanot, Dodd, Fetique, Gand, Hill
& Sons, Kittel, La Fleur, Lamy, Lupot, Pajeot, Peccatte, Pfretzschner, Sartory, Tubbs, Vigneron, Voirin, and Vuillaume.

BACK