Night on Bald Mountain

[Rumblejohn]

In Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain at measure 381 there is a notation: poco mena musso 1/2 muta E in D pizz. div. I know what most of it means but the 1/2 muta E in D throws me. The next measures are a double stop D natural. Does it mean to slightly mute the E string? By the way, I am covering string bass with a five-string electric(community orchestra in a poor community).
Can anyone recommend an online musical dictionary?

John

[Andrew McGregor]

'half section change E to D, divisi'. So, the inside players should drop their E strings to D, and play the lower line (it's not a double stop).

Personally I'd just tune DADG for the whole thing rather than drop in the middle.

Oh... but you have an EB. Well, just play the notes.

[Rumblejohn]

Originally Posted by Andrew McGregor

'half section change E to D, divisi'. So, the inside players should drop their E strings to D, and play the lower line (it's not a double stop).

Personally I'd just tune DADG for the whole thing rather than drop in the middle.

Oh... but you have an EB. Well, just play the notes.

Thank you Mr. McGregor, with your explanation, it becomes apparent.

Thanks again,

John

[CT DB]

You have plenty of time to detune your e string when it says to.