What does divisi indicate within a section?

• A. The section remains in unison.
• B. The section splits into two or more lines playing different notes.
• C. The section doubles the tempo.
• D. The section rests.

Answer: (B)

Divisi indicates a section splits into separate lines so different pitches can be played at the same time. This happens when the music writes more than one line on a staff and there aren’t enough players to cover all the notes with one line, so the players are divided into groups that each take a different note. That division is why this is the best description of what’s happening in the score. If the section stayed in unison, there wouldn’t be a need to split; tempo changes are about speed, not how players are grouped; and rests simply mean not playing for a moment, which isn’t what divisi conveys. After the divisi section, the score may indicate returning to one line or continuing in separate lines, depending on the music.