Alterbows: Bows made by a musician for musicians
Emma Alter studied music at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. Whilst studying modern viola, she was also bitten with the Early Music bug, studying baroque violin and viola with Andrew Manze. In 1997 Emma played with the European Union Baroque Orchestra touring Europe and the Middle East. She has been working professionally as a player since 1995, with groups including English Baroque Soloists (JE Gardiner), Gabrieli Consort, Academy of Ancient Music, the Hanover Band, and The Sixteen. With these and other groups she has toured round half the world and made many recordings. Emma has also played with many of her European and north american counterparts including Concerto Copenhagen, Academy of the Begijnhof (Richard Egarr) Bach Vereniging,Les Talens Lyriques, Texas Baroque Ensemble, and Aradia (Toronto, Canada) .
Whilst living in Holland Emma was fortunate to study the craft of bow making under the kind eye of Pieter Affourtit, a Dutch bow maker; fulfilling a long held desire to create in wood. It is the bow which allows the violin to sing. With Pieter she learnt how to make period bows (copies of violin, viola and cello bows from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries). She also made a copy of a renaissance bow, and a self-created prototype bow based on an early Dutch painting.
Emma’s bows are owned by members of Gabrieli Consort, Kings Consort, the Fitzwilliam Quartet and the Early Opera Company. Emma is working to build up her workshop and portfolio of bows.
Image credits (from left): Spanish bow 1694 (E.Alter), Detail of lion frog (E.Alter), Bow made after picture by Judith Leyster c.1635 (E.Alter)
Emma Alter
Specialist Crafts
Alterbows, Unit A4, Arena Business Centre, Ashfield Rd, London N4 1NY
T: 07939 277189
Contact: Emma Alter
alterbows@fastmail.fm
News Flash!
Emma is currently working on bows for Kati Debretzeni (leader of English Baroque Soloists), Catherine Martin (leader of Gabrieli Consort, Oliver Webber (Gabrieli Consort) amongst others.