RUSSIAN HEAVY BOW TECHNIQUE | Bach Double 2nd Movement | Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky | Bow Technique

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

Excellent pedagogue and player! My first teacher was a student of Mishel Piastro, who was a student of Leopold Auer. They didn’t call it Russian Heavy Bow Technique. They just played beautifully and expected their students to imitate them and do likewise. And we did! But I agree that it is all based on relaxation. Though the music can call for loud and intense playing, the masters, Russian or not, always remain relaxed and tension-free. Keep up the great work! Thank you.

[@Appolonius10]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this interesting comment. I appreciate you sharing this. All best

[@ilyannakerr3863]

Another brilliant vid packed full of really interesting info! 🙏✨

[@Appolonius10]

Thanks so much! 🎻

[@leopardtiger1022]

Thank you for this clear demo of Russian bowing technique especially with the music notes of the passages you have played added to the video. This a great help.

[@Appolonius10]

@@leopardtiger1022 what a lovely comment. Thank you very much for taking the time to listen. I’m glad you found some usefulness in it.

[@janerose1945]

Great explanation. Very enjoyable and informative listen. And the sword play at the end was wonderful!

[@Appolonius10]

Thank you so much for your time in writing this. I appreciate you. All best

[@janerose1945]

@@Appolonius10 Yep! I was able to immediately apply it to Mazas #2 (Op36 Book 1)

[@KaterinaConstanzia]

This is absolutely fantastic!

[@Appolonius10]

Thank you very much

[@bahman1186]

Excellent!

[@arsalan1977]

OMG HI MR CURR ITS ME AYA, FROM THE LESSONS IN CHURCHILL GARDENS!!

[@ihartfelix1640]

HI AYA

[@panthersherry1157]

thank you very much for your videos!!!

[@Appolonius10]

Thank you for taking the time to watch. All best

[@mattnieri1202]

I love how you ended the video!!!

[@stevenj9970]

Awesome to see Frank Miller principal cellist of the Chicago Symphony in the opening video!

[@Appolonius10]

A great spot! Well done. I love Chicago symphony. Great memories from playing at symphony hall back in 2014

[@nidurnevets]

I am glad to hear this type of sound, as it seems that it is getting lost. Many modern players seem to produce a different type of sound. Your opening of the Tchaikovsky is reminiscent of Heifetz in a movie called Carnegie Hall. You can find it on You tube

[@Appolonius10]

This is one of the best comments I have ever received. Thank you so much. Heifetz was my childhood inspiration 😊

[@nidurnevets]

@@Appolonius10 My father was a violinist in the NY Philharmonic, from right after WW2 until the end of the 1970s. He heard all the greats of his era, and to him, there was no one as great as Heifetz. I feel the same way.

[@nickcarroll8565]

For sure the Russian hold makes upbow staccato much easier for me. Also seems to help my wrist relax more. I was never really satisfied with the franco Belgian grip.

[@stevenj9970]

Notice the index finger of bow hand. The Russian school has one move that finger to contact the bow almost at second knuckle or in between 1st and 2nd knuckle instead of the first knuckle. It’s most noticeable in the 1st Bach example.

[@Appolonius10]

Extremely observant. Transfer of weight through bow is mostly down to index finger with others acting as counterbalance and weight controllers.

[@chesleygirlviolinmusic5629]

What is that piece that you played at 0:12?

[@Appolonius10]

That is the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

[@chesleygirlviolinmusic5629]

@@Appolonius10 thank you.

[@meytalmeyer8835]

I can not believe I'm watching you right now 😳😲🤗

[@Appolonius10]

I cannot believe this is you!

[@meytalmeyer8835]

@@Appolonius10 well it is❤️

[@Appolonius10]

Go to my website. Send me an email x

[@RelaxationMusic1611]

Oh my god, my teacher was teaching me to play only that technique %) but it takes so much tension in the hand that my bow first finger hurts xD

[@danielphendarko2651]

who is the maker of your violin?

[@Appolonius10]

Thanks for this question, I will be making a video on that soon, as that’s a question I get a lot IRL too. All best 👍

[@arsalan1977]

@@Appolonius10 Slayyyyyyy!

[@rioxty]

Me

[@HenrikKarapetyan]

Watched the video and I do have some constructive criticism to the author if you’re open to it. First, I do think it’s quite repetitive (same phrases repeated too many times) and as an average listener I’d probably turn it off by min 5 because by this point there hadn’t been much content but lots of repetition. Just my reaction - I may be wrong Regarding the content - what you are demonstrating has very little to do with the “Russian” style. I studied in Yerevan conservatory, Armenia, former USSR. My teacher was a student of Kogan. Then, studied with couple other teachers there and here in US (University of Michigan) who were former Kogan or Oistrakh students. No one ever told me to use a “heavy” bow. Relaxation - sure, but that’s not Russian. Regarding the entire terminology “Russian Heavy Bow Technique” - there really isn’t a thing like that. The weight of the arm on the string is not a Russian concept, if anything, it’s more the Franko-Belgian school. Also - you seem to confuse Soviet and Russian schools and there is some difference. Auer’s technique and teaching were quite different from that of Yabkrlevich and Yampoksky but I can’t elaborate it here - too broad of a subject. Your hold doesn’t look stereotypically Russian - though it’s a perfectly fine one. Also, you went in length about putting weight on the bow but didn’t provide exercises past imagery idea which is good but not enough. It’s very difficult for a student to put weight on the bow with arm that is below the contact point of the string and the bow. There are exercises for it but I didn’t see a demonstration on any. Good teaching absolutely must have exercises that explain exactly how to do a thing or another, saying - try and see what happens doesn’t get results. Also, saying “use your index finger” is rather dangerous because an average student will likely just press harder with the finger instead of manipulating the weight of the arm to lean on it and as a result, end up with tension and fatigue. (Please, check the comments and you’ll see what I mean). I appreciate the performance of Bach but please check the notes. Also, I happen to have studied period performance and please believe me, just playing without vibrato doesn’t mean making a baroque sound. Geminiani, the great violinist in English court tells us “vibrate as much as possible”! I think what you missed in your conception of Baroque style is that most expression is, indeed, in the right arm! I do hear you say that in the beginning and you’re damn right!! But then you demonstrate a very plain sound in your Baroque rendition of the passage from the D-minor concerto, without any expression and phrasing. I appreciate your work but in my opinion not enough thought has gone to this and rather somewhat popular, superficial attitude. This video may impress amateur players if this is your target but there are lot of questions professionals may have. In short, the idea of weight on the bow is not Russian and the claim that Russian teachers had to teach their students to play louder because Glinka and Tchaikovsky composed for big orchestras is a bit of a stretch. Wagner, Bruckner, Strauss and Mahler wrote for very, very large orchestras but we don’t think this is why German teachers changed their teaching practices. As for the “Russian” in general - was Auer - a Hungarian! He taught it St Petersburg. They call his technique “Old Russian” - it’s really Hungarian. Then, there were the schools of Odessa, Moscow and they just focused on expressive sound, many of them adopting the Belgian hold because it was generally more superior for producing a resonant sound. (Though one great exception is Kavakos - he has what you could maybe call “Old Russian” hold) Apologies if some of this sounds a little harsh - I just get a little tired of the “50 shades”of Russian technique, Russian school and attempts to decode the “secrets” of the Russians when in reality it was just two things - hard work and desire to produce an expressive sound. I also think, to acquire the “Russian technique” it is also necessary read good literature, visit museums, study a little philosophy and hence understand the difference between mannerism and real emotion. All the best to you, you play well, more in depth analysis of your content will be much welcomed

[@Appolonius10]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this excellent analysis. There is much to learn from the wealth of information you have written here and so I will take much time to reflect on it and also to re-read and understand everything. The most outstanding part of your comment is of course that, very simply, Russian Technique is essentially hard work and desire to produce expressive sound. I was speaking to an Armenian colleague who also studied in Yerevan at the time of the USSR. You most likely know each other. I will show her your comment and see if she recognises you. I will try much harder in the 3rd part of my Russian Technique trilogy to do it justice. Also I am now aware that the word ‘heavy’ has negative connotation in Russian. Thanks once again. All best

[@mahnaznaseri370]

I’m from Pimlico primary(with mr alan)

[@arsalan1977]

Its Aya, whats you name r u in yr 5 or 4 or 6?

[@rioxty]

kdot or drizzy

[@Appolonius10]

I love playing the violin. Especially considering how playing the violin has allowed me to see the world over the past 2 decades. And how it’s changed

[@antblea96]

Do you really want to be on a down bow on the next measure!?

[@Appolonius10]

@@antblea96 haha I don’t mind. Either is equal for me

[@ihartfelix1640]

HI SIR ITS ME HANNAH I FORGOT ABT U

[@Appolonius10]

Lovely to hear from you - all best

[@1stringendo]

The baroque performance showed a complete lack ot sophistication……its not enough to just drop all vibrato and play with such a heavy touch.

[@Appolonius10]

Thanks for taking time to listen to the performance and write a comment! The beauty of Bach, I suppose, is that one can be a complete barbarian and yet still the soul and fundamental nature of his music and underlying human message nevertheless still shines through. You are completely right, of course, one cannot accomplish proper baroque playing simply by eliminating the vibrato, as in the demonstration line. Because of this indisputable fact I went for a more romantic approach in the actual performance itself with plentiful vibrato, if still lacking the necessary sophistication required to tolerate a performance of Bach. I’ve always thought of Bach as deeply emotional and so I felt it fitting to apply the Russian bow technique to a performance of this piece as it at least allows the performers a greater range of options even if they are, in the end, under utilised.

[@skylark5789]

@@Appolonius10 And don't forget, Auer didn't advocate for a lot of vibrato, or wide vibrato. He explains why in his book. So, you're good !

[@jacksauvage]

Bro, Im sorry, but this is not russian violin technique at all 😂

[@Appolonius10]

@@jacksauvage bro. It’s Russian heavy bow technique 😁

[@jacksauvage]

@ im russian violinist and I studied Soviet techniques from students of legends like Oistrakh, Yampolsky and Yankelevich and I say that this is not our technique. You have mistakes in this topic

[@Appolonius10]

@ this is very interesting! I’m not Russian but I also studied from only Soviet teachers all my life, I would be interested to know what I made mistakes in if you have time.

[@jacksauvage]

@@Appolonius10 unfortunately I haven’t time for this, because it takes a long time to show

[@Appolonius10]

@ fair enough. You had great teachers!