A string technique where the player uses the wooden back of the bow instead of the hair to strike or scrape the strings. This creates unusual percussive or scratchy timbral effects that sound dramatically different from normal bowing.
From Italian 'col legno' meaning 'with the wood,' from Latin 'cum' (with) + 'lignum' (wood). This extended technique emerged in the 19th century as composers began exploring unconventional sound colors, becoming particularly popular with avant-garde and film composers.
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