divisi

techniquesdih-VEE-zeefrom Italian

A direction for a section of an ensemble to split into two or more groups, each playing a different ‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍part.

In Depth

Divisi (abbreviated "div.") instructs a section of an orchestra or choir — typically strings or voices that normally play in unison — to divide into sub-groups, each taking a separate line of music.‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍ For example, "violins divisi a 3" means the first violin section splits into three groups. This allows composers to write richer chords and more complex textures within a single section without requiring additional players. The technique is essential in Romantic and modern orchestral writing, where lush string textures often require division into many parts. Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler were masters of divisi writing, sometimes dividing each string section into four or more parts. The opposite instruction, "unison" or "unis.," tells the section to reunite on a single line. In choral music, SATB voices may be divided into SSAATTBB or even more parts for moments of rich harmonic density.

Did you know?

Ligeti's Atmosphères (1961) divides the orchestra into so many individual parts — sometimes 50 or more simultaneous lines — that every musician essentially plays a unique part.

Related Terms

unison ensemble orchestration

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