Brian Griffin

Violinist Mari Kimura has been experimenting with the production of subharmonic notes on the violin, effectively lowering its range by one octave. Unlike normal harmonics, which are produced by a light finger pressure on the string, subharmonics are achieved by mastering a specific bow technique. Currently, researchers at the University of Tromsø, Norway are studying the scientific principles that make the technique possible.

references:

• http://pages.nyu.edu/~mk4/
• http://homepages.nyu.edu/%7Emk4/subharmonics.html
• http://homepages.nyu.edu/%7Emk4/bundler-interview.html
• http://scienceblogs.com/corpuscallosum/2006/07/subharmonics_and_nonharmonic_o.php
• http://www.world-science.net/othernews/060706_violin.htm