Bariolage

Bariolage (Fr., "odd mixture of colours") is a technique performed by stringed instruments whereby there is a rapid alternation in the playing of open and stopped strings. Usually the figure involves a static note (the open string) and a changing note on a separate, almost always adjacent string.

<music>\time 12/8 e8 (a\flageolet) a\flageolet f (a\flageolet) a\flageolet g (a) a f (a) a a-4 (a\flageolet) a\flageolet g (a) a f (a) a e (a) a </music>

The above example illustrates two types of bariolage. The first involves a rapid alternation between a changing note (every down-beat) and a static note (the off-beats). The second, known as unison bariolage, seen on beat 1 of the second measure, involves the alternation between the same note played on two different strings. In this case the down beat is played stopped with the 4th finger on the D string of the violin, and the off-beats are played on the open A string. This preserves the sense of melodic line in each of the down beats while allowing it to cross the static, repeated note.