March 17, 1995, 8:15 a.m. (Message 1340, in reply to message 1333)
With respect to the importance of bow (or right hand) technique, I have regularly heard and also believe that good bow technique is often more impt than left hand technique. In phrasing, playing snaps and 'shivers', and playing at dance tempos; good bowing ability is an enviable asset. Alisdair Fraser has commented that one should have the ability to play a tune or a phrase interchangably with a mix of bowings (e.g. starting either w/an upbow or down bow into any particular bar of a tune, for instance). To me, that means not so much that bowing doesn't matter but that a fiddler should eventually have the facility to bow well enough to not be bound by strictures of how any particular tune might best be bowed. ned dairiki, berkeley,ca