Flutter tongue
Flatterzunge (English fluttertounge , or short flutter / flt. , More rarely Italian frullato ) is a musical tremolo-like ornament or articulation technique of a wind instrument . In the literature it occurs particularly frequently with brass instruments such as trumpet , horn , trombone and tuba , as well as with woodwind instruments such as flute or saxophone , but it can also be produced with other wind instruments. The fluttering tongue effect is created by making a rolling R sound with the tongue. It is to be distinguished from the double tongue .
The technique is more of a more modern type of articulation. One of the earliest uses of the flutter tongue in classical music occurred in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker , where the flutes are instructed to play flutter tongue in the opening of the final act. This special technique was particularly popular in the 20th century. For example Schönberg or Shostakovich , but also some film composers like to use the technology for fearful or tension-generating sound effects, very similar to a tremolo played on the strings.
There is also the articulation instruction 'flutter' in many BigBand arrangements. Especially with trombones, there are so-called 'growls', which combine the flutter tongue technique with the use of courage (usually 'plunger') in a complex way.
It is particularly used in older jazz styles, such as New Orleans , to generate dirty tones , but also in free jazz . In rock music, the flautist Ian Anderson often uses the stylistic device, often in connection with other techniques such as blowing sharp blows and simultaneous use of voices, in order to achieve a forced, rough expression.
The flutter tongue technique is usually noted by a notehead with tremolo strokes and an additional note such as "flz." Above the music text.
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