tutti
An instruction for the full ensemble to play together, as opposed to a solo passage.
In Depth
Tutti (Italian for all) marks the entry or continuation of the full ensemble after a solo, small group, or reduced passage. In a concerto, tutti sections alternate with solo passages — the orchestra plays during the tutti, then drops out or reduces during the solo.
The contrast between tutti and solo is fundamental to concerto form. The weight and power of a full orchestra playing tutti creates a dramatic foil for the solo instrument's more intimate, virtuosic passages. Conductors must carefully manage the balance during tutti passages to ensure no section overwhelms the others.
In Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the final movement opens with a tutti so powerful that it has been described as the sound of an entire civilisation celebrating victory.