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Flutter-tonguing
View on WikipediaFlutter-tonguing is a wind instrument tonguing technique. In this technique, performers flutter their tongue to make a characteristic "FrrrrrFrrrrr" sound. The effect varies according to the instrument and at what volume it is played, ranging from cooing sounds on a recorder to an effect similar to the growls used by jazz musicians.
Notation
[edit]
In sheet music, the technique is usually indicated with the standard tremolo markings on a note alongside a text instruction to flutter the note. The German marking "Flatterzunge" is often abbreviated to "Flz." or "Flt.". The Italian "frullato" is sometimes abbreviated to "frull".[1] In English, the most common indication is "f.t." Other markings that composers have used to indicate flutter tonguing include: coupe de lange roulé, en roulant la langue, tremolo dental, tremolo avec la langue, tremolo roulé, vibrata linguale, vibrando, and colpo di lingua among others.[2] However, simply writing (3-line) tremolo marks on all rhythmic values without other indication is most generally accepted.
Usage
[edit]One of the earliest uses of flutter-tonguing was by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in his ballet The Nutcracker. In the opening of the final act, Tchaikovsky makes the flutes flutter-tongue to depict the cascading river of rose-oil seen as Clara and the Nutcracker are welcomed to the kingdom of Confiturembourg: he named the effect frullato, as did the flautist who first introduced him to the technique, Alexander Khimichenko.[3]
The effect has since been called for in many classical compositions, where it is most often used on flutes, recorders, clarinets, saxophones, bassoons, trumpets, and trombones, but can be used on other brass and woodwind instruments as well. The technique became quite common in the 20th century, notably occurring in the music of Schoenberg and Shostakovich, where it can have a nightmarish or sarcastic effect, or conversely by Benjamin Britten who uses the effect on the recorder in Noye's Fludde to imitate the cooing of a dove,[4] or in Curlew River on solo flute to suggest both the mental state of the Madwoman and also the curlews she identifies with.[5]
Both Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss used the effect as well. In Don Quixote, Strauss imitates the distant bleating of sheep with flutter-tongued notes in the horns. Notably, he uses the marking "Zungenschlag" (tongue-beat) in this passage from Variation II. Elsewhere in the score, he used the traditional German "Flatterzunge". Mahler used this traditional marking as well, but he also deviated from it in the finale of his Second Symphony, where he uses the marking "Zungenstoss" (tongue-thrusts). On sustained whole notes, the tongue thrusts Mahler requires have the effect of a flutter tongue.[6]
Flutter-tonguing is also common in jazz music, particularly that which is associated with New Orleans or Vaudeville style. Cootie Williams was a master of combining a plunger mute with the flutter tongue to create a conversational effect.[7]
Method
[edit]The traditional method for producing a flutter tongue effect is to roll the tip of the tongue as rapidly as possible. This is done by performing an isolated alveolar trill while playing the notes desired. Some players find it difficult or even impossible to roll their tongues in this way, possibly due to ankyloglossia.[8]
Uvular fluttertonguing[9] is a method of producing a flutter tongue effect with the back of the tongue. The instrumentalist performs a uvular trill, which produces an only slightly rougher frrrr effect. The uvular trill does NOT produce the traditional growl sound from the jazz idiom. Real growling is produced by singing or groaning while playing a tone. The uvular trill is sometimes used simultaneously with groaning for an even more aggressive sound.
Uvular fluttertonguing can also be used when an alveolar trill is not appropriate to achieve the effect of fluttertonguing, e.g. in the low range of the flute, or when a faster fluttertongue is desired. Fluttertonguing can also be used in conjunction with other types of articulation.
Either method requires more than the usual volume of air to produce the effect.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ DeBost, Michael. The Simple Flute: from A to Z Oxford University Press, 2002. p. 253. ISBN 978-0-19-514521-2.
- ^ Toff, Nancy. The Flute: A Complete Guide for Students and Performers. Oxford University Press, 1996. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-19-510502-5.
- ^ Wiley, Roland John. Tchaikovsky's Ballets, Oxford University Press: 1997, p. 230. ISBN 978-0-19-816249-0.
- ^ Britten Noye's Fludde pocket score, Boosey & Hawkes 1958
- ^ Britten Curlew River full score, Faber Music 1964
- ^ Del Mar, Norman. Anatomy of an Orchestra. University of California Press, 1983. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-520-05062-4.
- ^ Harnum, Jonathan. Sound the Trumpet: How to Blow Your Own Horn. Sol Ut Press, 2010. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-9707512-7-0.
- ^ Dovel, Jason. "The influence of jazz on the solo trumpet compositions of Eugene Bozza", DMA Dissertation. University of North Texas, Diss. p. 20.
- ^ Post, Nora. "Monophonic sound resources for the oboe: Part I - Timbre". Journal of New Music Research, Volume 11, Issue 3, 1982.
- ^ Gäbel, Denis, and Michael Villmow. Saxophone for Dummies John Wiley & Sons, 2002. p. 152 ISBN 978-1-118-08487-8.
Flutter-tonguing
View on GrokipediaDefinition and Basics
Definition
Flutter-tonguing is a technique employed on wind instruments in which the performer produces a rapid, repetitive vibration of the tongue against the roof of the mouth or teeth while sustaining a note and maintaining steady airflow. This action creates a distinctive trilling or fluttering timbre that adds expressive color to the sound.[10][11][12] The technique is primarily applied to brass and woodwind instruments, where it enhances timbral variety without altering pitch. It can be achieved through a rolled "r" sound with the tongue tip or a uvular undulation in the throat, both driven by consistent air pressure.[11][12][8] Unlike conventional tonguing methods, which produce clear attacks for separating notes, flutter-tonguing involves continuous interruptions to the airflow for a tremulous, unified effect on a single sustained pitch. It is also distinct from multiphonics, which generate multiple pitches simultaneously via modifications to embouchure or fingering rather than tongue vibration.[10][11] The term originates from the German "Flatterzunge," literally "fluttering tongue," and entered music theory in the early 20th century to denote this specialized articulation.[10][12]Acoustic Characteristics
Flutter-tonguing produces sound through intermittent interruptions of the airflow by rapid vibrations of the tongue or throat structures, resulting in amplitude modulation of the sustained tone. This modulation typically occurs at low frequencies, ranging from 15 to 30 Hz, depending on the performer's tongue speed and technique, creating a characteristic buzzing or rippling effect akin to a rolled "r" sound in speech but sustained for musical purposes.[13] The vibration rate can reach up to approximately 50 Hz without excessive effort, adding periodic fluctuations to the breath pressure that enhance the instrument's timbral texture.[14] The primary acoustic outcome is a buzzing timbre that introduces brightness and added texture to the sound without altering the fundamental pitch. This effect arises from the modulation's influence on the harmonic spectrum, where vertical striations appear in spectrograms on the strong partials, indicating periodic amplitude variations with periods around 35 ms (corresponding to about 28.6 Hz in flute examples). The minimum amplitude during modulation is roughly 20% of the peak, preventing complete silencing and maintaining a continuous, rippling quality rather than staccato interruptions. These changes enrich the harmonics, imparting a sense of turbulence and added higher-frequency content to the tone.[15][9][14] Several factors influence the intensity, clarity, and overall acoustic profile of flutter-tonguing. The speed of tongue vibration directly determines the modulation frequency, with faster rates producing a more rapid ripple and potentially brighter timbre, while slower rates yield a subtler undulation around 20 Hz. Tongue pressure and positioning affect the depth of amplitude modulation, controlling the prominence of the buzzing effect, and the instrument's embouchure can modulate airflow consistency, impacting the clarity of the sustained tone during interruption. Throat-based flutter-tonguing, using the false vocal folds, may produce a deeper, more resonant modulation compared to tongue-tip methods, further varying the timbral outcome.[9][13][14]Technique
Basic Method
Flutter-tonguing, a technique applicable to both brass and woodwind instruments, relies on the physiological action of rapidly vibrating the tongue tip against the hard palate or the teeth while sustaining steady airflow through the instrument.[6][16] This alveolar trill mimics the rolled "R" sound in languages like Spanish or Italian, engaging the tongue's agility without interrupting the breath stream, which must remain warm and consistent to support the vibration. Some individuals may face physiological challenges, such as ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) or inability to roll the "r," requiring alternatives like guttural methods or practice adjustments.[6][17][5] Effective execution requires prerequisites such as proficiency in basic single tonguing to articulate notes cleanly and strong control of airflow to maintain pitch and tone stability during the trill.[6][16] Without these foundations, the flutter may disrupt intonation or cause air leaks. The basic process involves the following steps:- Produce a sustained, steady note on the instrument with relaxed embouchure and consistent breath support, ensuring the airstream is directed smoothly.[17][5]
- Relax the tongue in the mouth and initiate a rapid vibration by rolling it against the alveolar ridge, similar to pronouncing a prolonged "rrrr" sound, while keeping the tongue tip light and flexible.[6][16]
- Gradually adjust the vibration speed and pressure for evenness, starting slowly off the instrument if needed, and integrate it into the sustained note without altering airflow or pitch.[17][5]

