Which technique is used for a percussive, hammered bow stroke?

Which technique is used for a percussive, hammered bow stroke?

• A. martele
• B. ricochet
• C. scutille
• D. sul ponticello

Answer: (A)

Hammered, percussive attacks on bowed strings are achieved with martele. This approach delivers a quick, decisive contact with the string and then lifts the bow promptly, producing a crisp, accented attack rather than a drawn-out legato. The bow doesn’t slide much after the strike; the weight of the bow and the sharp contact create a dry, hammer-like articulation that clearly marks the note. That contrast helps explain why the other options don’t fit. A ricochet stroke relies on the bow rebounding to create rapid notes, not a single sharp attack. Playing near the bridge (sul ponticello) alters timbre—bright and buzzy—more than it defines the articulation of the attack. The remaining term isn’t the standard technique for a hammered effect, so it wouldn’t produce the same percussive onset.

Hammered, percussive attacks on bowed strings are achieved with martele. This approach delivers a quick, decisive contact with the string and then lifts the bow promptly, producing a crisp, accented attack rather than a drawn-out legato. The bow doesn’t slide much after the strike; the weight of the bow and the sharp contact create a dry, hammer-like articulation that clearly marks the note.

That contrast helps explain why the other options don’t fit. A ricochet stroke relies on the bow rebounding to create rapid notes, not a single sharp attack. Playing near the bridge (sul ponticello) alters timbre—bright and buzzy—more than it defines the articulation of the attack. The remaining term isn’t the standard technique for a hammered effect, so it wouldn’t produce the same percussive onset.