Benoit Rolland, Master Bow Maker

Benoit Rolland, Master Bow Maker, 2012 MacArthur Fellow, and 2017 Chevalier des Artes des Lettres speaks about bows, his process, and his dialogue with musicians.
Video credit to Michael Sheridan at SheridanWorks.

[@nickcarroll8565]

Fascinating. Wish I could try one of your bows.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

3:43 "The hair is still in contact with the string" (said of the new-angled bow frog). Not all players want this though... and over decades or even centuries almost every string player has learned how to start "ppp" passages with huge crescendoes to follow, with just a slight turn of the wrist. Sometimes less hair is *very* necessary.

[@benoitrollandstudio7855]

Thank you for your comment! The frog does not prevent the musician from playing with 3 hairs when necessary in pianissimo passages, and makes the bow immediately ready to develop its full potential when a crescendo is in play.
The bow technique doesn’t need to be changed, modified or extended, it remains the same. It simply allows for a more ergonomic approach to full-hair contact with the string as desired.

[@erictheviolinist]

@@benoitrollandstudio7855 I had the privilege of interviewing Maria Ioudenitch on @violinpodcast . After the interview she showed me one of your bows and was truly impressed with the design of your new frog. What a great way to maximize the potential of the bow and be innovative at the same time!

[@nickcarroll8565]

Also, man what a fantastic cellist.

[@melissat9120]

Wow!! 😍💕

[@greenviolist34]

Bravo! ❤

[@lawrence18uk]

This seems like a revolutionary design change - the first since Tourte???

[@Dan6erous]

Miriam is G.O.A.T