What is a Bartók pizzicato?

In music, a Bartók pizzicato (also called snap pizzicato) is a technique for pizzicato playing in which the string is plucked with a quick, jerking motion so that it snaps back against the fingerboard. This creates a sharp, percussive sound. The technique is named after the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, who used it frequently in his music.

To perform a Bartók pizzicato, the performer places their finger on the string and then quickly flicks it upward with a short, sharp motion. The string should be plucked near the fingerboard so that it can snap back against it. The resulting sound is a bright, percussive attack followed by a short sustain.

The Bartók pizzicato is often used for dramatic or expressive effects in orchestral and chamber music. It is especially effective in creating a sense of tension or urgency. The technique can also be used for humorous effects, as in Bartók's Capriccio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, where it is used to depict the chattering of a monkey.

Here are some examples of how Bartók pizzicato is used in music:

* In the second movement of Bartók's String Quartet No. 2, the first violin plays a melody using Bartók pizzicato while the other instruments provide accompaniment.

* In the finale of Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra, the strings play a rhythmic ostinato using Bartók pizzicato while the solo instruments play a lyrical melody.

* In the third movement of Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, the pizzicato strings are used to create a sense of urgency and excitement.

* In the second movement of Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3, the Bartók pizzicato is used to create a humorous effect in a passage that depicts the chattering of a monkey.