Hammered bow stroke corresponds to which term?

• A. martele
• B. sul ponticello
• C. scutille
• D. ricochet

Answer: (A)

Hammered attack on the bow is all about a crisp, forceful onset of sound. martele describes this exact gesture: the bow strikes the string with a strong, decisive weight and is quickly released to detach the note. The goal is a percussive, pointed articulation where the attack is the defining moment of the note, giving it a short, staccato-like punch even if the note length remains the same.

This stands out from sul ponticello, which focuses on timbre by playing near the bridge and isn’t about the attack direction; ricochet involves a bouncing bow to produce rapid notes from a single stroke, creating a different physical effect. The other term listed isn’t about this kind of hammered articulation either. So, the best match for a hammered, crisp onset is martele.