spiccato

American  

[spi-kah-toh, speek-kah-taw] / spɪˈkɑ toʊ, spikˈkɑ tɔ /

adjective

1. (of violin music) performed with short, abrupt, rebounding motions of the bow.

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spiccato British  

/ spɪˈkɑːtəʊ /

noun

1. a style of playing a bowed stringed instrument in which the bow bounces lightly off the strings

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adjective

1. to be played in this manner

Etymology

Origin of spiccato

1840–50; < Italian, equivalent to spicc- (stem of spiccare to detach) + -ato < Latin -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

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

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman

Too many amateurs try to play spiccato from the arm.

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman

This question as to what portion of the bow to use for spiccato each violinist must decide for himself, however, through experiment.

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman

This must have been rather a crude form of spiccato.

From The Bow, Its History, Manufacture and Use 'The Strad' Library, No. III. by Saint-George, Henry

He cannot play spiccato or any of the 'bouncing' bowings, including various forms of arpeggios, with a poor stick.

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman