The Importance of Pernambuco Wood Bows

Why is Pernambuco wood the best choice for fine bows?

As Vienna Philharmonic violinist Günter Seifert said, “Some people think a bow is only wood and hair, but the bow can be more essential to expressing the soul of the music than the violin is.”

The slightest change in a bow’s weight or balance will change the resulting playing characteristics. Just like instruments, bows have unique tone qualities. Some produce darker sound, some bring out brighter sound, and how they pair with a violin or cello is crucial to the final sound.

Fine Pernambuco bows are the product of centuries of bow making tradition and the beautiful pernambuco wood that is used to make them.

What is Pernambuco Wood?

Pernambuco is a tree native to Mata Atlantica, the rainforest on the Atlantic coast of Brazil. Its scientific name is paubrasilia echinata, which comes from the Portuguese words “pau” (wood) and “brasil” (red or ember-like). 

The term “pernambuco wood” specifically refers to the paubrasilia tree’s heartwood. These internal rings have a looser grain, and its color varies from a burnt orange to the deep red color that gives the paubrasilia its name. The paubrasilia echinata’s white-yellow sapwood is typically known as Brazilwood, and it is common in furniture and other woodcrafts.

The Portuguese initially recognized pernambuco’s use as a dye. When ground into sawdust, pernambuco can produce a wide array of vibrant colors, from oranges to reds and purples. The tree was so important to Portuguese explorers that they named the land they found after it: Terra do Brasil.

When Did Pernambuco Wood Become Important to Bow-making?

The Portuguese colonizers set up plantations in Brazil to export Pernambuco wood to Europe in massive quantities for dye-making. The idea of using beautiful, flexible Pernambuco wood as a construction material hadn’t crossed their minds.

According to musicological legend, François Xavier Tourte – the father of the modern bow–used to wander the docks of Paris, looking for the perfect wood for his bows. One day, he supposedly stumbled upon a shipment from Brazil, and music history was changed forever!  When combined with Tourte’s new bow model, pernambuco helped transform bow-making from an afterthought into its own respected art form.

As classical music entered the Romantic period, pernambuco bows were the only choice to express the repertoire’s grand emotions. They were uniquely able to capture the music’s sensitivity, as well as strong and flexible enough to withstand the pressure applied to the strings in particularly passionate passages. Pernambuco bows quickly became the gold standard for string players, and they still hold their vaunted place today.

Why Do Pernambuco Wood Bows Sound So Good?

Subtle differences in the wood aren’t just important when making an instrument; they also affect the playing qualities of the finished bow. 

Making a bow that will pull the best sound from pernambuco wood requires skill and craftsmanship, and bow-making is one of the few remaining artisanal crafts that has not been replicated with machinery.

Each piece of wood has its own unique attributes–including strength, density, and sonic quality–that the archetier must become familiar with before turning it into a bow. Throughout the bow-making process, the archetier will make a myriad of decisions designed to optimize the wood’s characteristics. 

One of the critical attributes necessary for bow-making is “memory.” The wood must be able to bend in the presence of heat and then retain its shape when cool. Pernambuco’s strength and flexibility result in excellent memory.

Bows have to be sensitive and expressive. In the words of contemporary bow maker Morgan Anderson, “Musicians are looking for a balance, a stability, a connection with the string, and a responsiveness that allow the bow to feel like a natural extension of their arm that articulates complex bowing passages with ease. But for most players, the tonal considerations are paramount.”

While technological advancements have allowed for some truly wonderful synthetic carbon fiber bows, they don’t quite reach the musical heights of their pernambuco cousins.

Shop Bows with Dolce Violins

At Dolce Violins, we know that no instrument can truly sing without an exceptional bow. Our selection includes fine antique bows by French masters like Sartory, Thomassin, Vigneron and CN Bazin as well as modern masterpieces by respected bow makers like Douglas Raguse, Roger Treat,  and contemporary brands like L’archet Brasil, and Arcos Brasil

Our knowledgeable staff is always happy to answer your questions and help you find the perfect bow for you and your instrument. Contact us now for a consultation, and to arrange for an in home trial of bows of your choice.