Posted on June 4, 2008 by Craig Hultgren in Tone Production - Bow Hold/Bow Arm
An aspect of sound and tone production that many great cellists look for is what my teacher at Indiana University, Fritz Magg, called "spun tone." This is a sound that is relatively loud, full and intense. It is produced by using a bow contact point within an inch of the bridge, a firm pressure on the string, and a relatively slow speed of stroke. It produces a wide amplitude of vibration in the string, hence Fritz's moniker of spinning the string. It requires a deft combination of contact point, pressure and speed from the bow to avoid whining sul ponticello or cracking tone. When it is done well, it is a great way to sustain legato melodic lines. It feels like the bow is so deep into the string that one cannot get out of the sounding tone too quickly. It is a virtue of intrumental accomplishment and a hallmark of sound development.