divisi
Orchestra parts divide
Divisi is a musical direction indicating that a section of instruments—usually strings—should divide into two or more groups, each playing a different part rather than all playing the same notes in unison.
The term comes from Italian and appears in orchestral scores when a composer writes chords or multiple lines for what would normally be a single section.
The violins play divisi in the second movement.
The opposite instruction, where players reunite on a single line, is typically marked "unison" or "a due."
Play with bow
- pizzicatoString-plucking technique
- unisInformal term for universities
- soliSingle-performer passages
- tuttiFull ensemble passage
sul tasto · tremolo · marcato · tenuto · legato · staccato · spiccato · portamento
Thin flexible lines
- sectionDistinct divided part
- violinsBowed stringed instruments
- violasAlto-range bowed strings
- cellosLarge bowed strings
basses · desk · stand · voicing · texture · scoring · arrangement · doubling
To set apart
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
- subdivideSplit into smaller portions
- halveDivide into two
- branchDivision or woody limb
diverge · split · section off · distribute · apportion · allocate · share · assign
Sounds producing speech
- partsIndividual elements of whole
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
homophony · canon · fugue · imitation · parallel · intervals · consonance · dissonance
arco
Play with bow
tutti · sul tasto · tremolo · marcato · tenuto · legato · staccato · spiccato · portamento · glissando
strings
Thin flexible lines
cellos · basses · desk · stand · voicing · texture · scoring · arrangement · doubling · unison
separate
To set apart
branch · diverge · split · section off · distribute · apportion · allocate · share · assign
voices
Sounds producing speech
- partsIndividual elements of whole
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
chord · homophony · canon · fugue · imitation · parallel · intervals · consonance · dissonance · resolution
- music notationtreble clef, bass clef, clef, clefs, staff
- Choral Singinga cappella, voice parts, vocal parts, harmony, homophony
- orchestraorchestra, symphony orchestra, philharmonic, strings, string orchestra
- stringsviolin, guitar, viola, cello, double bass
- musical texturemonophony, homophony, polyphony, counterpoint, thick texture
- long divisionAlgorithm for dividing numbers
- divide and conquerOvercome by fragmenting opposition
- digital divideUnequal access to computers/internet
- dividing lineBoundary between regions
- divided and conqueredSeparated opposition to defeat
- divide upSeparate into shares
divide, division, divided, dividing, divider, divisive, dividend, divisible, divisional