Bows! Soundbox September 2006

Royal Academy of Music Museum

Peter Sheppard Skaerved discusses Paganinis rise through the Salons of Rome, and his bow choices.

Ingres' depiction of Paganini (Rome 1818)

Introduction-what bow did Paganini use?

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Leigh Hunt’s catalogue of Paganini’s bowing techniques

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Tourte and the lineage from Viotti

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Paganini sits for Ingres

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Salons and Ferrules…

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Salon to stage

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A better choice than the ‘modern Tourte’?

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Suppleness and rigidity

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Where is a bow designed to be held?

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Paganini and Strads

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Simple silhouette of Paganini, apparently made during his last visit to the UK in 1834. Even this crude rendering gives a powerful idea of his unique posture.