Flautando
Definition. Flute-like — a soft, hollow string tone, similar to or overlapping with sul tasto.
Detailed Explanation
Flautando is Italian for ‘fluting’ or ‘flute-like’. As a string performance direction it instructs the performer to produce a soft, hollow, flute-like tone — similar in character to sul tasto, with which it is often used interchangeably.
The technique is achieved by bowing lightly, often over the fingerboard, with minimal weight. The result is a tone that suppresses upper partials and emphasizes the fundamental — producing a sound that resembles a flute’s gentle, breathy quality.
Flautando is a coloristic effect rather than a dynamic. It does not necessarily mean soft (though it usually is); it means flute-like in timbre. Composers reach for it when they want a string section to imitate a wind instrument’s tone.
Etymology
Italian, gerund of flautare (‘to flute’), from flauto (‘flute’), itself from Latin flatus (‘breath’).
In Practice
Light bow weight, slow speed, contact over the fingerboard. The tone should feel breathy, hollow, almost wind-like.
Notable Examples
- Mahler — Symphonies (occasional flautando indications)
- Debussy — Various (frequent flautando effects)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Flautando mean in music?
Flute-like — a soft, hollow string tone, similar to or overlapping with sul tasto.
Where does the word Flautando come from?
Italian, gerund of flautare (‘to flute’), from flauto (‘flute’), itself from Latin flatus (‘breath’).
How is Flautando performed in practice?
Light bow weight, slow speed, contact over the fingerboard. The tone should feel breathy, hollow, almost wind-like.
What musical terms are related to Flautando?
Related terms include: Sul Tasto, Sul Ponticello.
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