Common used string devices on the melody

A Full, warm and very expressive sound.

Viola + cello in unison. USED A LOT. possible unison range: Viola (John Williams)

4 B4

Violoncello

?4 4 &

&

=
(John Williams) Violin I - violin II - viola. possible doubling range:

Vln. 1 (18)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

& B

Vla. (10)

&

=
A romantic full, expressive sounds. Solid and rm. Good for when the low range of each instruments is being used. Violin I + violin II - viola - cello (- bass).
possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18) (Holst/John Williams)

& &

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10)

B & ? &

Vc. (10)

Here it's possible to have a full range over 3 octaves because the Basses aren't used. Instead, the middle octave is skipped. This will not be noticed that much. (John Williams)
Violin I + violin II - (octave skip) - viola + cello (or only viola or only cello). possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18)

& & B

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10)

? Vc. (10) &

&

Violin I - violin II (1st div & 2nd div in 6ths) - vla (1st div & 2nd div in 3ths). Melody part in 1 octave: 28 players, harmonic llers line: 11 players. (John Williams) possible doubling range:

Vln. 1 (18)

&

Vln. 2 (11) Halve (6)

&

Vln. 2 Halve (5)

& B B

Vla. (10) Halve (5)

& &

Halve (5) Vla. (10)

For climax moments in FF.

Melody (with 28 players) in Violin I (1st div) - violin I (2nd div) - cello Harmonic llers (with 21 players) in Violin II (div in 3ths) - vla (div in 3rths) (John Williams)

Vln. 1 (18) 1st div. (9)

& & &

Vln. (18) 2nd div. (9)

(John Williams)

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10) B ? Vc. (10) =

& &

Vl I &(6) VL II - vla

possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18)

& &

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10)

&

A Full, round, solid, rm, tense, taut, strained and instense sound in the upper register. A very powerful string unison often used for strong emotional melodies, but also for background lines. Good for strong presentation of the melody. Violin I+Violin II+viola+cello in unison. USED A LOT. possible unison range:

(Holst)

Vln. 1 (18)

& & B ? &

&

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10)

Vc. (10)

A Very rm sound in the lower register and a very expressive and eloquent sound in the bright upper end of the range.
(Holst) Violin I (or violin II) - viola in octaves. USED A LOT.

Vln. 1 (18)

Vla. (10)

& B
possible octave doubling range:

&

=
When the violins aren't available for the melody...
(Holst) Viola - cello. NOT USED A LOT. possible octave doubling range:

B
Vla. (10)

& &

?
Vc. (10)

=
A beautiful quality sound, somewhat severe in character. The feel is rm, full. Violin I + Violin II - Viola+Cello. USED A LOT.
possible octave doubling range: Vln. 1 (18) (Holst)

& & B

&

&

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10)

? Vc. (10) &

&

A very full strong sound. Used mainly in the low range of the violins.
Violin I + Violin II + Viola - Cello + bass. USED A LOT. possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18) (Holst)

&
&

Vln. 2 (11)

& B ? ?

Vla. (10)

Vc. (10)

Cb. (9)

=
( Holst) Violin I + violin II + viola - cello. possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18)

& & B ?

&

& &
&

Vln. 2

Vla. (10)

Vc. (10)

=
(Holst) Violin I (divided in 4 desks) - violin II (divided in 4 desks). possible doubling range:

Vln. 1 (18)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

&

Violin I (divided in 3 desks) - violin II (divided in 3 desks). (Holst) possible doubling range:

Vln. 1 (18)

& &

Vln. 2 (11)

=
(Holst) Vl I & (3ths) Vl II - Vla & (3ths) cello possible doubling range:

Vln. 1 (18)

& &

Vln. 2 (11)

B
Vla. (10)

?
Vc. (10)

& &

Here it's possible to have a full range over 3 octaves because the Basses aren't used. Instead, the middle octave is skipped. This will not be noticed that much. (John Williams) Violin I + violin II - (octave skip) - viola + cello (or only viola or only cello).
possible doubling range:

Vln. 1 (18)

& & B ? &

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10)

Vc. (10)

&

For climax moments in FF in high register. Violin I div in 3ths - violin II div in 3ths - vla div in 3ths
possible doubling range:

Vln. 1 (18)

& & B

(John Williams)

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10)

FF, for making a strong theme statement with extra pressure on the 1st violins with 24 players. Violin I + violin II 1st div - violin II 2nd div - vla + cello (John Williams)
possible doubling range:

Vln. 1 (18)

& & & B

Vln. 2 (11) 1st div. (6)

Vln. 2 2nd div. (5)

Vla. (10)

? Vc. (10)

&

=
Parallel triad movement. FF marcato sound. 29 players on the upper part, 5 on the 2 lower ones.
Vl I + vl II & vla div in 3ths. possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18) (John Williams)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

Vla. (10)

& B

&

A very resonant expressive sound. Violin I + violin II on the G string (or vl II on G string + vla)
(John Williams) possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

&

=
A very heroically sound in FF Violin I - violin II - vla - cello
possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18) (John Williams)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

& B

Vla. (10)

?
Vc. (10)

=
The lower part (21 players) sounds full and has a cantabile quality. Violin I - violin II + viola. USED A LOT.
possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18) (John Williams)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

& B

&

Vla. (10)

(John Williams)

An espressive sound with parallel moving triads Violin I - violin II div in 3rds (melody line on the 2nd div) possible doubling range:
Vln. 1 (18)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

&

=
An espressive sound with parallel moving triads Violin I - violin II div in 6ths (melody line on the 2nd div)
possible doubling range: Vln. 1 (18) (John Williams)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

&

Vln. 1 (18)

&

Vln. 2 (11)

&

Vla. (10)

& ?

Vc. (10)