Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
ponticello
musical term
/pɒn.tɪˈtʃɛl.oʊ/
Definition
A term used in music to indicate playing with a light, delicate bowing technique on stringed instruments.
Examples
- The composer wrote a section for the strings that required the musicians to play ponticello, creating an ethereal sound.
- During the performance, the violinist switched to ponticello for a hauntingly beautiful effect.
Meaning
In musical notation, ‘ponticello’ instructs the player to create a soft sound by bowing near the bridge of the instrument, thus producing a unique tonal quality.
Synonyms
- Soft bowing
- Delicate playing
