Sautille refers to

• A. Sustained legato bowing
• B. Bouncing of the notes by the middle of the bow typically at a fast tempo
• C. Two-note-per-bow detachment
• D. Harmonic slur

Answer: (B)

Sautillé is a bouncing bow stroke on a violin family instrument, produced by lightly allowing the bow to rebound on the string to create rapid, short notes. This effect is typically done with the bow near its middle and at a fast tempo, giving a lively, sparkling line. The bounce is controlled and light, so the notes articulate quickly without a heavy, connected legato.

That’s why the statement about bouncing notes by the middle of the bow at a fast tempo best describes sautillé. It’s not about sustained legato, which aims for smooth, unbroken sound; nor is it about two-note-per-bow detachment, which describes a different articulation pattern; nor is it about harmonic slurs, which involve harmonics and slurred phrasing unrelated to the bouncing stroke.