IT divisi bowing core term Support my free tools
- Abbreviation
- div.
How is divisi played?
When simultaneous notes share one staff, distribute them among the players instead of asking each performer to play every note. The division is commonly organised by desk or within each desk—for example, outside players take the upper note and inside players the lower—and may be labelled div. a 2, div. a 3 and so on. This differs from double-stopping: divisi assigns one chord note to each player, whereas non-divided writing asks every player to stop multiple strings. The state must be cancelled: unis. restores one common line, non div. is clearer when every player resumes double stops, and tutti restores the full player complement after a solo or reduced group.
How does divisi sound?
The section sounds fuller in harmony but lighter and purer per part, since each note is carried by a true legato single-stop line rather than the rougher, more strained sound of every player double-stopping.
In context
Divisi is standard orchestration practice, most common in strings but also applicable to horns, other brass and woodwinds. General glossaries describe the distribution of simultaneous notes among players and list tutti, all’unisono or unis. as possible returns. Stone, A-R and Wulfhorst support div.; Stone further distinguishes the destinations precisely, using unis. for one recombined line, non div. for undivided multiple stops and tutti for player count rather than line allocation.