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For two — in wind parts, both players play the same line (returning from a divided passage). Can also mean "for two players."
Printed over a wind or brass staff shared by two players — “a 2”, “a2”, “a.2.”, French “à 2”, German “zu 2” — meaning both play the written line in unison. It holds until “1.” or “2.” gives the line to one player, or two stem directions split it. Over a string part the similar-looking “div. a 2” means the opposite: divided into two.
Abbreviations: a 2, a2
In orchestral wind parts (where two players share a staff), "a 2" means both play the same notes. "1." means first player only, "2." means second player only. Always clarify which player(s) should play to avoid confusion.
In Beethoven's symphonies, oboe parts frequently alternate between "1." (first oboe solo) and "a 2" (both oboes in unison).
A due is one of 1760 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary: the words, abbreviations and instrument names that appear in printed scores, plus the vocabulary composers use to talk about them.
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