When Lucien Capet described sans filet — the “spun tone” — he captured something every violinist strives for: a sound so connected, it feels sung rather than played.
In this segment from Expressive Bow Strokes, violinist Robin Wilson unpacks the secrets behind that seamless legato, guiding you through the delicate balance of speed, weight, and contact point that gives the bow its expressive life.
Through slow bows near the bridge and roulé exercises that awaken the fingertips’ sensitivity to string resistance, Wilson shows how to turn simple motion into living sound.
The lesson then turns to portato, revealing how to shape each pulse naturally through the bow’s own elasticity without disrupting the line. By learning to feel the stick’s flex and the air between each note, you’ll discover how portato can breathe warmth into phrasing rather than interrupt it.
The result is a richer, more lyrical voice on the instrument—one that bridges precision and emotion in every stroke.
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