# Mozart, Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 ("Haffner")

The standard classical bass excerpt. Fast running passagework that has to stay light, clear, and exactly in time.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

- **Work:** Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 ("Haffner")

- **Movement:** IV. Presto

- **Era:** Classical (c. 1750–1820)

- **Composed:** 1782

- **Tempo:** Presto

- **Clef:** Bass clef

- **Difficulty:** Audition

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

A light, short stroke, classical style on the bass means letting the note stop rather than sustaining it.

## Where it goes wrong

The passage requires frequent shifting; unclean shifts read as smudged rhythm rather than as wrong notes.

## Style

Keep the sound transparent. A heavy bass line turns the whole texture muddy, which is exactly what a panel is checking for.

## Techniques

symphony, audition, fast, classical-style

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

- [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: 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.
- [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.
- [Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/beethoven-5-i-bass), The four-note motif, played in unison across the low strings. Rhythmic clarity is the entire test. Intermediate; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/bass/mozart-35-iv-bass