martellato

[ mahr-tl-ah-toh; Italian mahr-tel-lah-taw ]

adjective

1. (of notes or chords in a musical score) heavily accented and detached.

martellato

/ ˌmɑːtəˈlɑːtəʊ /

noun

1. (in string playing) the practice of bowing the string with a succession of short sharp blows

Word History and Origins

Origin of martellato¹

1875–80; < Italian: hammered, past participle of martellare. See martel, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of martellato¹

Italian: hammered

Example Sentences

The bow strokes range from a heavy, brutal martellato to a lighter spiccato so harsh and spiky as to turn the violin into a percussion instrument.

From The New Yorker

The martellato, a nuance of spiccato, should be played with a firm bowing at the point.

From Project Gutenberg

Ellipsis--Shades and Inflections--Vocal Music--Respiration--Position of the Tone--Preparation of the Initial Consonant--Exercises-- Appoggiatura--Roulades and Martellato--Pronunciation--E mute before a Consonant--E mute before a Vowel.

From Project Gutenberg

Delsarte had a marked prejudice in favor of the martellato, which partakes of both.

From Project Gutenberg