Hello,
So far I’ve been using Dorico’s default labeling for divisi (à 2). Simply numbers 1 and 2 above the staves, and vertically aligned. However, in orchestral situations, some players complained this looked weird, and should instead use “tutti” (on each stave), “divisi 1/2” “divisi” depending on the situation.
What would be the standard labeling practice you’d recommend? If so, should that be built into Dorico’s default labeling?
I agree that Dorico’s default divisi labeling isn’t customary, although I’m not entirely sure I follow what the orchestral musicians have told you.
Invoking the term “divisi” or “div.” by itself generally means divisi a 2 unless otherwise specified.
One reason for this is that string sections are generally even numbers of players sharing desks, and divisi is most easily accomplished by allocating the parts by inside and outside players.
Any other type of division (such as “a3”) requires a conversation in rehearsal, or very careful notation, or both.
But it’s true I’ve never encountered the numbers 1 and 2 in quite the way Dorico automatically inserts them as labels, so I change them. This is currently fairly tedious, because (as noted elsewhere in the forum) there’s no way to do that globally AFAIK, unless I missed the memo in a recent update.
Divisi is used customarily for section players (like orchestral strings or singing groups, and perhaps for band wind sections). 1., 2., and a2 are used with single wind instruments where each player plays a separate part rather than being one of a section of players.