On the relation between gesture, tone production and perception in classical cello performance

Abstract

On bowed string instruments such as violin or cello, the quality of sound depends mostly on the performer's bowing technique, which determines the interaction between the bow hair and the string. An accomplished string player has numerous ways of shaping the spectrum of a desired sound. This research investigates the combination of bowing gestures necessary for production of a rich tone. In particular, bowing control parameters such as bow force, bow velocity and bow-bridge distance captured by a dedicated sensing system are analysed and compared against audio features. Using audio and gesture measurements of six advanced cellists recorded on two different instruments of a luthier class, we characterise a sound palette and respective bowing control patterns of each player in performed scales. We especially focus on how performers adjust their bowing technique to control the timbre of an instrument on which they have never practised before. Observed differences between the players on the measured audio features show consistency with the bowing parameters adapted for balancing the timbral changes due to instrument, string and fingering position. © 2013 Acoustical Society of America.