Loose bow

I've watched violinists tighten their bows, rosin them, test the tension. I expect violists, cellists, and players of the huge contra-bass do the same.

At the second maqam concert I noticed that the fiddler used a loose bow. He pulled the horsehair (if that's what it is) tight as he worked the bow back and forth. The original bows were probably taut, like a bow that shoots arrows. I wonder what the advantage is of a loose bow.

Copyright Jane S. Fox