tutti
techniquesTOO-tee
An instruction for the full ensemble to play together, as opposed to a solo passage.
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.