Sounds

Bartók Pizzicato

Originally the Bartók pizzicato is an effect played on rubbed-string instruments performed by causing the played string to snap violently against the fingerboard of the instrument.
The Bartók pizzicato on the harp is performed by playing a string près de la table (near the soundboard) and at the same time letting the finger slide downwards to snap on the soundboard. The dynamic goes from mp up to f/ff.

Luciano Berio, Sequenza II (1963) © Universal Edition, London.

Yoshihisa Taïra, Sublimation (1971) © Durand, Paris.

Thérèse Brenet, Suite Fantasque (1983) © Billaudot, Paris.