_Note._ This passage is difficult but nevertheless quite playable. One or two desks of the 1st Violins are sufficient to double the melody in the upper octave, all the other 1st Violins can play the octave below. In this way the piercing quality of the highest notes will be diminished, the melody will acquire a clearer and more pleasant sound, and the expressive tone quality of the lower octave will be strengthened.
* No. 25. _Ivan the Terrible_, Act III [[63]].
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.
_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_.
First and second Violins progressing with the Violas in octaves is a common method, especially when the lower octave in the melody happens to go below the open _G_ string on the violins.
_Snegourotchka_ [[137]], finale of Act I. Quick melody, _piano_.
2. Vns I + II/Violas] 8 and 3. Vns I/Vns II + Violas] 8.
These two distributions are not exactly the same. The first should be used to obtain greater brilliance in the upper part, the second to give the lower part a fuller and more _cantabile_ quality.
No. 27. _Sadko_, before [[181]].--Vns I + II/Violas] 8. Quick animated passage, _forte_, introducing reiterated notes.
No. 28. _Snegourotchka_ [[137]], finale to Act I--Vns I/Vns II + Violas] 8. _Cantabile_ phrase, transmitted to the flute and clarinet (cf. Ex. 8).
Of special use when the Violins are otherwise employed.