b) Violins divisi in octaves.
First and second violins divided in two parts and progressing in octaves will deprive the melody of resonance, since the number of players is diminished by half, the consequences being specially noticeable in small orchestras. Nevertheless the method can be used occasionally when the strings are doubled by the wood-wind, and when the melody falls in a sufficiently high register.
Examples:
Snegourotchka 166.—
| Vns I Vns II | >[ | 8 |
mezzo-forte espressivo. Partial doubling of Coupava's song (Sopr.). One flute and one oboe double the melody.
[No. 26.] Snegourotchka 283.—Chorus of Flowers—
| 2 Vns soli Vns I + Fl. I | >[ | 8. |
Pianissimo cantabile in two octaves, progressing with the women's chorus (Sopr. I), and given out earlier by the Eng. horn. The flute and all the 1st Violins except two play in the lower octave, the two solo violins, only, in the upper. The solo desk will be sufficiently prominent owing to the general pianissimo.
c) Violins and Violas in octaves.