In your opinion in which circumstances is it acceptable to change the prescribed bowing in a piece of music?

If it's very hard to play the original bowing and altering it won't change the overall effect.

It's acceptable to change the bowing in any circumstance, just as long as you have good reason to do so. Any arrangement is just one persons interpretation, so why not make it your own and do whatever feels most comfortable?
Just make sure that if you're changing the bowing in an ensemble that everyone knows about it or it'll look like a straggly mess!

QUOTE (charlottethemuppet @ Jan 15 2005, 12:40 PM)

It's acceptable to change the bowing in any circumstance, just as long as you have good reason to do so. Any arrangement is just one persons interpretation, so why not make it your own and do whatever feels most comfortable? Just make sure that if you're changing the bowing in an ensemble that everyone knows about it or it'll look like a straggly mess!

There is a protocol for this. Usually, section principals determine bowing; occasionally either the leader or the conductor will do it. Non-string playing conductors are often reticent about it, but if they are unsure, they can always ask the leader how best to achieve the required musical effect.

Composers vary enormously in how much knowledge they bring to and care they take with bowing. Sometimes they have clear intentions (e.g. when Sibelius puts double bowings in a part and asks half the section to do it each way, the aim is to achieve a seamless line); sometimes, the intention is not quite so obvious (e.g. Shostakovich asks for what appear to be outrageously long bows in the opening theme of the tenth symphony, on 'cello and bass, but if you do them, you get the dynamic he asks for).

Yeah, we modify them quite often in yourth orchestras, but I am not very experienced so I was wondering whether it would be silly.

The composer seems to know his violin very well, so I think I won't touch it!!!