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Flutter-tonguing — a technique for wind instruments where the player rolls an "r" while playing, creating a growling, buzzing effect.
Printed as “Flatterzunge”, “Flatterz.” or “Flz.” over the notes, usually with tremolo slashes through the stems; it lasts for the marked notes or until “ord.” or plain notation resumes. English scores write “flutter-tongue” or “flz.”, Italian “frullato”.
Abbreviations: Flz., Flatterz.
Flatterzunge (or flutter-tongue in English) creates a dramatic, buzzing tone on flute, trumpet, and other wind instruments. Use it for aggressive effects, exotic color, or moments of extreme intensity. Not all players can flutter-tongue equally well — it is easier on flute than on double reeds.
Strauss's "Don Quixote" — Flatterzunge in the wind section depicts the bleating of sheep in the famous variation.
Flatterzunge is one of 1760 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary: the words, abbreviations and instrument names that appear in printed scores, plus the vocabulary composers use to talk about them.
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