All the players — nearly half the ice cream (5)
I believe the answer is:
tutti
'all the players' is the definition.
(musical instruction)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tutti that I've seen before include "(Musically) performed by all instruments" , "With all instruments twenty four Acdn (music)" , "Piece together" , "All (musical players)" , "Everyone join in (mus.)" .)