saltato

Meaning of Saltato in Music

In music, **saltato** refers to a specific bowing technique used by string players, particularly violinists. It is an Italian term that translates to "bounced" or "jumped" in English. When performing saltato, the bow is bounced on the string while the bow-stroke is restricted to the tip, resulting in rapid and detached notes with a staccato sound.

The saltato technique is a combination of two actions: dropping the bow onto the string and executing a detaché stroke. This produces a detached staccato effect, where each note is clearly separated and articulated. It is similar to the French term "sautillé" and is often used interchangeably.

Please note that saltato specifically refers to the bowing technique and not the musical notation or symbol.