rosin
Rosin was first produced from pine trees growing near the ancient Greek town of Colophon and was originally used in the medical and magical arts. To make rosin today, raw resin from pine, fir and spruce trees is filtered to remove impurities and then distilled to remove the turpentine and water, leaving a viscous mixture which readily hardens to a brittle, transparent, glassy solid. To make instrument rosin, this pure resin is heated and special additives, which are kept secret by the individual manufacturers, are added to improve the rosin's properties. Rosin's basic function is to improve the bow hair's grip on the strings. A thin coat of rosin collects in the crevasses between the microscopic scales found on the surface of the hair. As a result, the ability of the hair to "grab" the strings improves and the bow is able to glide more smoothly across the strings. Musicians choose rosin depending on the instrument, the type of strings, the type of bow hair and their individual playing style. Steel strings require a less adhesive rosin, synthetic strings a medium rosin and gut strings a more adhesive rosin. Good rosin should be transparent and brittle, and should easily form a powder when stroked onto the bow. Prior to using a new brand of rosin, always thoroughly clean the bow hair. Then, carefully apply the rosin with 10 - 12 slow, even strokes; 6 - 7 strokes suffice when subsequently re-applying the same rosin. Powdered rosin can be applied to brand new hair hanks using a brush.
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