Between Tree and Bow
Eva-Maria Tomasi on Pernambuco

Do you know what Pernambuco is? If you do, you either know a lot about the botany of the Brazilian rainforest or you play a stringed instrument. Almost every bow is crafted from Pernambuco. The survival of this unique wood is under threat, placing it at the centre of international conservation policy – with significant consequences for the music world. In this interview, Eva-Maria Tomasi, violinist and member of the orchestra board of the Berliner Philharmoniker, discusses the musical, historical and political importance of a material without which an orchestra would be nearly inconceivable.

Ms Tomasi, what exactly is Pernambuco, and why is it important to orchestral musicians?

Pernambuco is a type of wood – a tree also known as “Fernambuk” or “Paubrasilia”. It grows in the Mata Atlântica, the Atlantic coastal rainforest of Brazil, and even gave the country its name: “Brazil” roughly translates as “ember-like” – because when you cut into the wood, it shines with an intense red colour. For centuries, it was also used as a dye. For us musicians, Pernambuco has special significance. Without this wood, we couldn’t perform – because it’s used to make bows for our string instruments: violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.

How did this come about?

Baroque bows were quite different – they were convex, bending outward. In some instances the bow’s tension could be directly controlled with the thumb. The bow evolved gradually, with François Xavier Tourte as a key figure. Around 1775, he gave the bow the shape we still use today: concave, with a specific length that hasn’t changed since, and with a frog and screw mechanism to adjust tension.

Before Tourte, bows were often made from snakewood, amourette or yew. However, Tourte discovered that Pernambuco had precisely the properties needed for an ideal bow – density, robustness, resilience and, simultaneously, elasticity and flexibility. Only this wood offers that unique combination. Almost all high-quality bows have been crafted from Pernambuco for the past 250 years. Although carbon bows are being developed today, they aren't comparable in quality.

When was it first recognised that Pernambuco faced problems?

Pernambuco stocks have been shrinking for centuries, frequently cleared to make room for housing. Bow-making is relatively insignificant in comparison. Early reforestation projects began in the 1970s, with around three million Pernambuco trees planted. In 2007, Pernambuco wood was placed under protection by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) – a significant step. CITES lists species in three appendices. Pernambuco was listed in Appendix II, meaning trade could continue, but under strict regulations. As musicians, we could still travel with Pernambuco bows, but logging and export became much more tightly controlled.

How has the music world reacted to the threat facing Pernambuco?

In 1999, the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative (IPCI) was founded, which we, the Berliner Philharmoniker, support. It’s backed by a non-governmental organisation founded by members from Brazil, North America and Europe. Its goal is to protect Pernambuco stocks, ensure sustainability, promote reforestation, and prevent illegal trade. Through IPCI initiatives, new trees have been planted, and research projects have been underway for years. At the same time, the IPCI advocates for the continued use of existing bows and the crafting of new bows from sustainably-grown Pernambuco. Whether this will remain possible is currently under discussion – clearly an enormously important question for musicians and orchestras.

What exactly is at stake?

There is a possibility that Pernambuco will be uplisted to Appendix I of CITES, the highest level of protection. If a species is listed in Appendix I, international trade – including in processed form – is generally prohibited. There would be very few exceptions, strictly regulated and requiring permits.

What would such an uplisting mean for an orchestra?

Aside from bows becoming unsellable and untradeable, musicians who already own bows would be severely affected – particularly when travelling. Each musician would require their own CITES document for their bow, presented and stamped at each border crossing. Imagine the bureaucratic effort if an orchestra with 70-80 string players travels abroad. Whether sufficient personnel or practical implementation would even be available is doubtful. I can barely imagine how we’d continue touring with the orchestra under such conditions.

Let’s avoid misunderstandings: conservation is one of the great challenges of our time, a goal we fully share, particularly regarding Pernambuco. That's why we support the IPCI’s mission, aiming to protect this special wood while enabling its controlled, sustainable musical use. Together with the IPCI, we believe these goals can coexist. We’re also concerned about the future: if Pernambuco is given higher protection, no good new bows could be made—for any string instrument. That would create a huge problem for future generations of musicians and for the art of string-playing as a whole. Brazil has already agreed to an uplisting to Appendix I. We sincerely hope this classification doesn't happen.

What should be done now?

Right now, I believe visibility is essential. We must clearly communicate the issue to policymakers. Many view this purely as a conservation matter, understandably, something everyone wants to support. We feel the same. The question is simply how to protect it. We are asking for open dialogue about the different options and their consequences.

Do you have a direct message for those responsible?

Dear policymakers, this is a matter close to the hearts of musicians: please consider the consequences if Pernambuco wood is uplisted to Appendix I of CITES. This decision would deeply disrupt the entire classical music world. We are fully committed to sustainability. We support reforestation, plant trees, and want to ensure the preservation of this tree species. But please try to prevent this uplisting. Thank you.