Flageolett: meaning and use in music

How is Flageolett played?

On a bowed string, touch the string lightly at a nodal point rather than stopping it fully; a natural harmonic uses an open string, while an artificial harmonic combines a firmly stopped pitch with a second light touch. On harp, the common octave harmonic is made by stopping the string at its midpoint and plucking so the octave partial rings. The exact hand shape and written-versus-sounding pitch convention are instrument-specific; a wind-instrument use of Flageolett is not executed as string contact.

How does Flageolett sound?

The same glassy, whistling, flute-like colour as armonico — natural Flageolett open and bell-like, künstliches Flageolett more pinched but chromatic. Pale, weightless, and easily floated still further sul tasto.

In context

Flageolett is the German harmonic term used where Italian may write armonico. The resulting tone is a partial with a pale, flute-like colour; natural and artificial string harmonics use different stopping arrangements, and harp harmonics have their own production and notation convention. The name recalls the small flageolet flute. No candidate had three direct expansions of this precise headword, so Flageolett remains written out.

Equivalent terms

• IT armonico
• IT flautando
• FR harmonique
• EN harmonic
• DA flageolet