# Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

The four-note motif, played in unison across the low strings. Rhythmic clarity is the entire test.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Ludwig van Beethoven

- **Work:** Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

- **Movement:** I. Allegro con brio

- **Era:** Classical (c. 1750–1820)

- **Composed:** 1808

- **Tempo:** Allegro con brio

- **Clef:** Bass clef

- **Difficulty:** Intermediate

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

Short, even, and unaccented across the three pickups. No crescendo into the long note.

## Where it goes wrong

The fermata must be held with the conductor, not anticipated, the commonest ensemble failure in the excerpt.

## Style

Fierce rather than fast. Protecting the rhythm is what the passage is for.

## Techniques

symphony, audition, unison, rhythm, famous

This public reference contains work information and original practice notes. It does not publish the excerpt notation or grant permission to copy a score. Score access and rights depend on the edition and jurisdiction.

## Related excerpts

- [Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, III, Trio](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/beethoven-5-iii-bass), The most requested double bass excerpt in the repertoire. The Trio fugato, played by the section alone, fast and quiet. Audition; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, IV, recitative](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/beethoven-9-iv-recitative-bass), The instrumental recitative for cellos and basses before the vocal entry. Speech-like, rhythmically free, and section-defining. Audition; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mozart: Symphony No. 40, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/mozart-40-i-bass), The pulsing accompaniment that opens the symphony, and the running bass line that follows. Tests classical style and rhythmic discipline. Advanced; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mozart: Haffner Symphony, IV, Presto](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/mozart-35-iv-bass), The standard classical bass excerpt. Fast running passagework that has to stay light, clear, and exactly in time. Audition; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mozart: Symphony No. 39, IV, Finale](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/mozart-39-iv-bass), Fast classical running passages across the instrument. A standard test of clean shifting and light articulation at speed. Audition; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/beethoven-5-i-bass