Fluttertonguing

Fluttertonguing is a wind instrument tonguing technique in which performers flutter their tongue to make a characteristic "FrrrrFrrrrr" sound. This is done by performing an isolated alveolar trill while playing the notes desired.

Notation

In sheet music, fluttering is often abbreviated as "flt." or "flz.", as it is also known as "Flatterzunge". Fluttertongue is most often used on flutes, bassoons, trumpets, and trombones, but can be used on other brass and woodwind instruments as well.

Usage

Fluttertonguing is common in jazz music, particularly that which is associated with New Orleans or Vaudeville style. It is also called for in many classical compositions, especially in the twentieth century and notably in the works of Schoenberg and Shostakovich, where it can have a nightmarish or sarcastic effect. In Richard Strauss's tone poem Don Quixote, fluttertongued dissonances played softly on the horns are used to imitate the distant sound of bleating sheep.

Audio examples

listen
filename = Bassoon-technical-fluttertongue.ogg
title = Bassoon fluttertonguing
description = A bassoon being fluttertongued.|

listen
filename = Trombone-fluttertounging.ogg
title = Trombone fluttertonguing
description = A fluttertonguing trombone.|

See also

* Uvular fluttertonguing