Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.

Please vote for your favorite Xmas project piece here

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
What is saccade bowing?
bowstrokes
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (2 votes) 
Avatar
Djordan

New member
Members
September 24, 2019 - 11:18 pm
Member Since: October 19, 2017
Forum Posts: 2
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I came across an etude in the Bang method, vol 2 (Number 185), which is supposed to be practice for "saccade bowing."  Uncharacteristic of the method, there is no instruction of the stroke and it seems to come out of nowhere, as it is just in that one etude. 

I have tried to look online for any explanation of what "saccade bowing" means or a video demonstrating it but without success. If I am identifying it correctly, it is notated like a hook stroke- 2 staccato dots under a slur. 

I suspect it is an old fashioned term which has been renamed but I am not sure. Otherwise, apparently we have lost a violin stroke to the mists of time-- not likely!! Does anyone have an idea what it is or where I could find more information about it?

Avatar
Pete_Violin
Utah

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
September 24, 2019 - 11:53 pm
Member Since: March 25, 2018
Forum Posts: 456
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@Djordan 

You are correct... there is not much information regarding this bow stroke.  In fact, the little I did find was rather vague.  I have not found any detailed instruction on the bow stroke.  Just generalities.

Saccade is a french term meaning to jerk.  I did find the notation on some scores and it looks like this:

saccade.jpgImage Enlarger

So from this reference, and the meaning behind the term, I believe it is a quick hooked bow with possibly a "jerky" motion.

Also note that the dynamic noted on these indicate psf  and sf, which is played with a loud attack and very quickly to soft.  This would support the quick, cutting motion to achieve this bow stroke.

I don't know how much you've played, but for me this would be an advanced bow stroke.  I do think that in most music it would commonly be notated as hooked staccato.

sp_PlupAttachments Attachments

- Pete -

Avatar
Mouse
September 25, 2019 - 9:39 am
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 5594
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I did some googling and it was discussed by some group ina forum I never ran across before. They mentioned it was named after the term that means a particular rapid eye movement. 

I also found this, photo attached. It seems to me to be similar, in ways to Martelé. Similar, not alike, in that they accent. One article I just read said it is used to break monotony in a piece. It was a copy of an old article,  you know with the thick black ink, like in the photo I attached. You might have to zoom in. Pretty much concurs with everyone else. Maybe it is an archaic term now?

86DAFE07-2A29-4413-A40A-F55A46C804FC.jpegImage Enlarger

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

Avatar
Djordan

New member
Members
September 26, 2019 - 12:24 am
Member Since: October 19, 2017
Forum Posts: 2
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thank you, Pete and Cid, for your detailed and clarifying responses! I think the explanation of the dynamics really brings home the point to me, and also why it would be notated similar to a hook. I haven't tried it live yet, but I can already imagine where it might be useful, especially to bring rhythmic emphasis in a phrase.  If it is uneven in duration (unlike a regular hook), it might explain the name, as well, especially with several in a row.

I agree, Pete, this does seem to be an advanced stroke. However, in the course, the etude I mentioned immediately follows many detailed exercises in dynamics, so it sort of makes sense where it is in the course. (Not that I will able to do it without a lot of practice, especially at the tip in your example. I suppose that's why it's an etude :)) 

Avatar
Pete_Violin
Utah

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
September 26, 2019 - 2:34 am
Member Since: March 25, 2018
Forum Posts: 456
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Djordan said
 

I agree, Pete, this does seem to be an advanced stroke. However, in the course, the etude I mentioned immediately follows many detailed exercises in dynamics, so it sort of makes sense where it is in the course. (Not that I will able to do it without a lot of practice, especially at the tip in your example. I suppose that's why it's an etude :)) 

I learned hooked staccato in my first year.  This bow stroke is a bit different. If I attempted it, I would probably play it as a hooked staccato, but that is because I am less confident that I could achieve this bow stroke. 

If I see saccade in my music, I will blame you! LOL!!

- Pete -

Avatar
Gordon Shumway
London, England
Members

Regulars
September 26, 2019 - 3:27 am
Member Since: August 1, 2016
Forum Posts: 2515
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I Googled 'saccadé violon' like an amateur (see below).

Wiktionary seems to imply that the salient thing is to sound both the G and the D strings together by means of the violent pressure on the Sf (third note of @pete's example), not that I'd normally go to Wiktionary for anything that specialised.

And normally I'd be very suspicious of an invented generalising name for a very specific technique that may be unique to one piece of music (if it were all about the Rode).

Wordnik describes it as multiple-stopping by brute force rather than by technique.

So, again in Pete's example, when going from C to D it seems to be required that you play the open D string sf (don't attempt to use your pinky) and sound both strings, and so on. In other words, forget all that clean-pivoting practice you did, and just blast through it!

Further French Googling, thus: ' "saccadé" "violon" ' revealed they probably don't recognise the expression; and, if Wiktionary and Wordnik are right, I'd say it was misnamed anyway: if Rode had just put martelé marks under each 1st and 3rd note and the piece was fast enough, lesser players would automatically have got the desired effect. Funny to think he may simply be telling experts not to overpractise it! Now, as it is, lesser payers will be forced to overpractise it! (tongue-in-cheek smiley)

Andrew

Avatar
Mouse
September 26, 2019 - 9:19 am
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 5594
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@Gordon Shumway You and I are in the same page with likening it to Martelé. Sure sounds like it.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 26, 2019 - 2:08 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16475

I think you are supposed to jerk, make a rapid bow change to a partial double stop. In other words hit two notes at once instead of individually as written.

I'm not completely sure. Don't hear this very often.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
ELCBK
USA
Members

Regulars
September 11, 2020 - 8:29 pm
Member Since: June 10, 2020
Forum Posts: 8324
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Yep Exclamation Point SmileyI end up in the strangest places! 

Just ran across this article (with video) about "saccade bowing".

It just might help clarify exactly what it is... or does it?

https://www.thestrad.com/featu.....14.article

Dazed Spinning Eyes Emoticons- Emily

Avatar
Gordon Shumway
London, England
Members

Regulars
September 12, 2020 - 4:28 am
Member Since: August 1, 2016
Forum Posts: 2515
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

In the year since I commented, in total ignorance, above, I have not used it, not needed to know it, forgotten about it and forgotten I had commented on it.

Lol.

If I come across it in an orchestra I will bluff it.

Rereading what I wrote above, I'm not ashamed of it. It could perhaps be shortened.

Perhaps the best summary is, "if you can play that Rode at all, then you will probably be using the saccadé stroke (if it even exists) without knowing it or needing to know it"!

Andrew

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 87
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today Dani_B, mdedmon, rbnsad
Upcoming Fiddlestix, cdennyb, ErViolista, zander7, Helene, Panda-P, OP Alaraasakka, ryonass, PoisonJay
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 8324
ABitRusty: 4152
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Gordon Shumway: 2515
Oliver: 2439
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2211
stringy: 2194
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31732
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 83
Topics: 10698
Posts: 135929
Newest Members:
Mamoun_violon, myrrhsuppose SP, cookieclickeraz SP, OhioMimi, Ulises Mueller SP, jenypandya SP, donna1205 SP, Stayrook, thomasanderson SP, ratsamop SP
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16475, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3746, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5594