Divisi

text example

A divisi indication is a normal text expression that you place in a part (such as a string part) to indicate that the section of players should split up—one group should read the top written notes and the rest should read the bottom written notes, for example. Use the Expression tool to place the marking into the score.

Tip: If you want to create a bracket or “split up” marking as shown above, simply create a second text expression that consists only of a “less-than” marking (SHIFT+comma), like this: <, or a left bracket, like this: [, so that you clearly indicate which notes are to be played by each group of players.

example using bracketsUsing the Smart Shape tool, you can create a bracket ([) used to indicate that several notes are to be played with the same hand (piano music) or by a divisi orchestral or choral section. A bracket that encloses a group of notes is created as an expression in the Shape Designer. For information on brackets that connect staves, see Brackets: Staves. For information on triplet (and other tuplet) brackets, see Tuplets.

To create a note bracket

  1. Choose the Smart Shape tool icon.
  2. OPTION-click the Custom Line tool icon. The Smart Line Designer dialog box appears.
  3. Click Create.
  4. Set the desired thickness (you might try 6 ClosedEVPUsEVPUs, or ENIGMA Virtual Page Units, are Finale's flexible units of measurement used to calculate the size and spacing of your music, defined as 288 EVPUs per inch or 24 EVPUs per space. You can display the measurements in more common units such as inches, centimeters, points or spaces.).
  5. In the End Point section, for Start and End, select Hook.
  6. Enter the desired hook length (you might try 12 ClosedEVPUsEVPUs, or ENIGMA Virtual Page Units, are Finale's flexible units of measurement used to calculate the size and spacing of your music, defined as 288 EVPUs per inch or 24 EVPUs per space. You can display the measurements in more common units such as inches, centimeters, points or spaces.).
  7. Click OK and then Select.
  8. Double-click and drag to create a Smart Shape bracket in the desired location.

    Hold down SHIFT, and then double-click and drag up or down to create a vertical bracket. The direction of the hooks depend on whether you drag up or down.

See also:

Equivalents