Definition

1. Noun:
   • An upward stroke from the tip to the heel of the bow: In music, particularly for string instruments like the violin or cello, an "up-bow" is a specific bowing technique. It is the motion of drawing the bow upward, starting the stroke near the tip (the end farthest from the player's hand) and pulling it toward the heel (the end held by the player's hand).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The passage is marked with an up-bow symbol. (The musical notation indicates the player should use an upward bow stroke.)
  • Practice the up-bow slowly to ensure a smooth sound. (Practice the upward stroke of the bow at a slow tempo.)
  • The up-bow often produces a slightly different articulation than the down-bow. (The upward stroke frequently creates a different kind of attack or sound quality compared to the downward stroke.)

Advanced Usage

• "to execute an up-bow": to perform the upward bowing motion correctly.
  • The cellist executed a perfect up-bow on the high note.
• Context in Musical Notation: An up-bow is often indicated by the symbol "V" placed above or below a note in sheet music, instructing the player on the required bow direction.

Variants and Related Words

• Down-bow (n): The opposite stroke, moving from the heel of the bow to the tip.
• Bowing (n): The overall technique or style of using the bow.
• Bow stroke (n): A general term for any single movement of the bow across the strings.

Synonyms

• Upward stroke: A more general term describing the direction of the motion.
• Ascending bow: A less common descriptive synonym.

Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs)

• Bow direction: The planned sequence of up-bows and down-bows in a piece of music.
• Bowing pattern: A recurring sequence of bow strokes.

Noun

1. an upward stroke from the tip to the heel of the bow