# Mahler, Symphony No. 1 in D major

The unaccompanied solo bass statement of Frère Jacques in the minor. The most famous solo in the orchestral bass repertoire, and completely exposed.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Gustav Mahler

- **Work:** Symphony No. 1 in D major

- **Movement:** III. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen

- **Era:** Late-Romantic (c. 1880–1910)

- **Composed:** 1888

- **Clef:** Bass clef

- **Difficulty:** Audition

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

A sustained, even stroke with a clear but unaccented start. Muted in the score, which changes how the bow must engage the string.

## Where it goes wrong

Entirely unaccompanied, so intonation has no reference. It sits high enough that the sound thins easily if the bow is not committed.

Nerves show up here more than anywhere. Practise it cold, first thing, with no warm-up run.

## Style

Marked to be solemn and measured but not dragging, Mahler is explicit. The character is eerie, not mournful.

## Techniques

symphony, audition, solo, exposed, 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

- [Mahler: Symphony No. 2, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/mahler-2-i-bass), The tremolo-driven low string opening. Aggressive, rhythmically exact, and demanding a large sound without loss of definition. Audition; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, bass passages](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/strauss-heldenleben-bass), Fast, wide-ranging low string writing that crosses the whole instrument. One of the hardest excerpts on the standard list. Audition; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Verdi: Otello, Act IV double bass passage](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/verdi-otello-bass), The unaccompanied low string writing before Otello’s entrance in the final act. A standard opera-audition excerpt and completely exposed. Audition; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Strauss: Don Juan, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/strauss-don-juan-bass), The low string part of the opening gesture, fast, wide, and requiring the section to match the upper strings exactly. Audition; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/mahler-1-iii-bass-solo