Viel Bogen wechseln

As Printed on a Score

Printed over a string part in sustained, loud passages, where long slurs might otherwise tempt players to save bow. It lasts for that passage.

How Composers Use It

Wechseln means change: the instruction tells string players not to economise but to change bow freely, so every stroke can use plenty of fast bow and the tone never thins at the end of a long slur. Mahler writes it at the peaks of his string melodies, trading seamlessness for intensity. In a section, players can stagger their changes so the line stays unbroken.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, fourth movement (Adagietto), first violins, m. 94: “viel Bogen wechseln” at f, reaching ff a bar later.

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