Joachim, Joseph. (1831-1907)
Autograph Letter about Bow Technique
An interesting autograph letter from the great Hungarian violinist, dedicatee of the Brahms, Dvorak and Bruch Concertos and many other works. 1 page, in English, dated Berlin, May 14th [no year]. In full: "Dear Sir, I don't think I ever touch the hair of the bow with my thumb; it perhaps depends on the length of the thumb if people do or not. If in your case it causes a 'certain stiffness in the hand', then don't by any means. Ease of bowing is the thing to attain." In fine condition. 4.75 x 7.5 in (13 x 20 cm).Of great significance, this is the only Joachim letter we have handled in which the great violinist explicitly discusses matters of violin technique. Karl Courvoisier, a student of Joachim, tell us in the "The Technique of Violin Playing, presenting a set of comprehensive violin instructions as pursued by Joachim himself, that he recommended for the thumb to be placed inside the frog, and if the gap is too narrow, to remove the corners as much as necessary. Then, the nail of the thumb should rest against the metal ferrule. Carl Flesch tells us in his Memoirs how Joseph Joachim held his bow: "By the fingertips, the index finger touched the stick at the line of the top joint, while the little finger remained on the stick even at the point." As a result, "the change of bow at the frog was accomplished with stiff fingers by means of a combined movement, very difficult to describe, consisting of a horizontal jerk of the wrist and a slightly rotating movement of the forearm." That this stance was uncomfortable and must have caused tendonitis in some followers is evident. (9883)
Autograph Letter Classical Music