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All performers playing or singing the same pitch simultaneously (or at the octave).
Unison passages have maximum force and clarity — there is no harmony, just a single concentrated line. Use unison for powerful thematic statements, dramatic openings, or moments when you want the entire ensemble focused on one idea. Octave unisons add weight while maintaining the single-line effect.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, opening — the entire orchestra in unison on the four-note motif, creating maximum impact.
Unison 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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