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A passage for a small group of soloists, or the solo group in a concerto grosso.
Soli (plural of solo) indicates a passage for a small group. In orchestral parts, "soli" may mean the section leader's desk, or a specified group of players. In concerti grossi, the soli (concertino) group contrasts with the full orchestra (ripieno).
Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 — the soli group of flute, violin, and harpsichord contrasts with the full string orchestra.
Soli is one of 228 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary, where every definition is written around how composers actually use the word.
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