Howard Green - My Bow Making Philosophy
" My work is to make bows that are a natural extension of the arm with balance, strength, tone, flexibility, and many other attributes, making a bow that becomes a living entity with its own ‘soul’.

Soul for me means that undefinable quality that works with the player’s technique to turn notes into music. Soul means a player’s instant realization that something special is happening after playing the first few notes. Soul means an abundance of empathy between the player and the bow. "

Materials and Making Philosophy

Every element of my bows is handmade by me from materials of the highest quality. I use no bought-in or semi-finished parts except the adjuster screw.

All this individual preparation of parts inevitably makes for a significantly longer build-time, but results in bows with originality, personality and individuality.

This is especially true when they are made to specific order, as I much prefer, after thorough consultation with the player. We discuss specific requirements (which can include the need to match with a particular instrument and its characteristics), and aspirations - what it is the player hopes the Howard Green bow will help them achieve. As a cellist myself, I have the player's understanding of the complexities which a bow must handle, and as a maker the satisfaction of these (sometimes contradictory) requirements gives me my greatest pleasure.

Working to make a bow in harmony with both player and instrument inspires me; and to all the many string players for whom I have achieved this goal, I thank you for your trust and look forward to a beautiful future, continuing to make bows for great musicians, and enabling their music to resonate in our age.
 

https://www.howardgreenbowmaker.com/