I recently used social media to ask my cellist friends what kind of rosin they liked to use. I’ve been using the same rosin – Pirastro Oliv – for nearly twenty years. My reasoning has always been the old, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. However, I started experimenting with my bowing technique and wondered if something with more “grab” would help. All rosin creates the “stick” in the “stick/slip” motion of pulling the bow across the string. Without rosin, the horsehair itself doesn’t create sufficient friction to fully activate the string. While almost all rosin is processed tree resin at its core, various manufacturers add different ingredients to alter properties of the rosin.
I’m going to give this “Wiedoeft” rosin a try on the recommendation from a friend. I’ll report back on my results! In the meantime, what is your favorite rosin…and why?
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