# Orchestral cello excerpts, bowings, fingerings, and tempos

From baroque continuo lines to twentieth-century string writing, with the bowings, fingerings, and trouble spots a scanned part will never give you.

The cello section spends its life between two jobs: carrying the bass line and carrying the tune. Audition lists test both, which is why the standard excerpts range from the Beethoven 5 fugato to the Brahms 2 solo within the same list.

Cello excerpts also test clef fluency more than any other string instrument. Bass, tenor, and occasionally treble clef appear within single excerpts, and hesitation at a clef change is audible as a rhythmic stumble.

## Excerpts

- [Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/beethoven-5-i), The most famous four notes in Western music. Bass section plays in unison, total rhythmic clarity is everything. Intermediate; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, III, scherzo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/beethoven-5-iii), The cello/bass fugato of the Trio, a notorious string excerpt for clarity, off-string articulation, and ensemble. Advanced; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Brahms: Symphony No. 2, II, cello opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/brahms-2-ii), One of the most beloved cello-section excerpts in the repertoire, a long, singing tenor-clef line that opens the slow movement. Audition; Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Brahms: Symphony No. 1, II, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/brahms-1-ii), Hushed, expansive opening. The cellos provide the harmonic foundation under the violin theme, total bow control. Advanced; Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Brahms: Symphony No. 3, III, cello melody](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/brahms-3-iii), The famous wistful melody (familiar from many film scores). Cello section sings the principal tune. Advanced; Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Brahms: Symphony No. 4, I, second theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/brahms-4-i), The cellos and horn give out the noble second theme, broad, declamatory, and rhythmically precise. Advanced; Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mendelssohn: Italian Symphony, IV, Saltarello](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mendelssohn-italian-iv), A breakneck saltarello finale. The cello running passages demand crystal-clear off-string articulation. Advanced; Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Scherzo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mendelssohn-mnd-scherzo), Fairy-light Mendelssohn scherzo passage, the textbook test of clean, even, soft spiccato. Audition; Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Dvořák: Cello Concerto, I, opening solo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/dvorak-concerto-i), The most famous cello concerto entrance. A heroic, declamatory tutti gesture answered by tender song. Audition; Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Dvořák: New World Symphony, II, Largo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/dvorak-9-ii), Hushed muted strings under the famous English horn solo. Total bow control at pp. Comfortable; Romantic; Bass clef.
- [Dvořák: Symphony No. 8, III, cello melody](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/dvorak-8-iii), A lilting, Slavic waltz. The cellos take the second statement of the theme. Intermediate; Romantic; Tenor clef.
- [Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, I, second theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/tchaik-6-i), The famous lyrical second theme, soaring, heart-on-sleeve. Cello section in unison. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5, II, cello accompaniment](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/tchaik-5-ii), Pizz. accompaniment under the famous horn solo. Beautiful in its restraint. Comfortable; Late-Romantic; Bass clef.
- [Tchaikovsky: Romeo & Juliet, love theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/tchaik-romeo-love), The most famous love theme in classical music. Cellos take the soaring line. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef.
- [Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations, theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/tchaik-rococo), Tchaikovsky's tribute to the classical era. Pure, transparent, devilishly hard to play with simplicity. Advanced; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mahler: Symphony No. 1, I, cello melody](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mahler-1-i), The "Wayfarer" theme stated in the cellos, naïve, folk-like, pure. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef.
- [Mahler: Symphony No. 2, V, cello/bass recit.](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mahler-2-v), A free cello/bass recitative, every player must phrase as a soloist within the section. Advanced; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Strauss: Don Juan, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/strauss-don-juan), The most-asked orchestra audition excerpt for cello, a heroic, virtuoso opening that demands speed, precision, and bravura. Audition; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, hero theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/strauss-heldenleben), The hero's grand, expansive theme. Cellos and horns surge upward over three octaves. Audition; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Strauss: Death and Transfiguration, apotheosis](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/strauss-death-transfig), The transcendent C major apotheosis, cellos sing the transfiguration theme over shimmering strings. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef.
- [Wagner: Tristan, Prelude opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/wagner-tristan-prelude), The most famous opening in Romantic music. Cellos rise to F, then the legendary "Tristan chord" hangs. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/wagner-valkyries), The galloping low-string ostinato under the famous valkyrie theme. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Bass clef.
- [Bach: Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/bach-suite-1-prelude), The most famous opening in solo cello literature. Broken-chord arpeggiation over a G major bass. Intermediate; Baroque; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Bach: Cello Suite No. 3, Bourrée I](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/bach-suite-3-bourree), A buoyant dance, the most accessible Bach Suite movement, beloved by beginners and masters alike. Comfortable; Baroque; Bass clef.
- [Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in G minor, I](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/vivaldi-rv416-i), Bright, athletic Baroque concerto opening, drives the cello across all four strings. Intermediate; Baroque; Bass clef.
- [Boccherini: Cello Concerto in B♭, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/boccherini-bflat-i), Boccherini's most famous concerto opening, galant style, virtuosic, requiring brilliance and clarity in upper positions. Advanced; Classical; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Haydn: Cello Concerto in C, I, opening solo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/haydn-c-i), Bright, optimistic classical opening, every cellist learns this concerto. Advanced; Classical; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Haydn: Cello Concerto in D, I, opening solo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/haydn-d-i), The other Haydn concerto. Elegant, lyrical, and a staple of every audition list. Advanced; Classical; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mozart: Symphony No. 40, I, cello accomp.](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mozart-40-i), The cellos and basses provide the famous pulsing accompaniment to the violin theme. Comfortable; Classical; Bass clef.
- [Schubert: Symphony No. 9, II, cello melody](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/schubert-great-ii), The cellos take over the second statement of the lyrical Andante theme. Intermediate; Romantic; Tenor clef.
- [Schubert: "Death & the Maiden", II, theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/schubert-death-maiden-ii), The cello plays the bass voice of the chorale-like theme, solemn, shrouded. Comfortable; Romantic; Bass clef.
- [Schumann: Cello Concerto, I, opening solo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/schumann-concerto-i), A noble, melancholy opening. Schumann marked it "not too fast", discipline trumps speed. Audition; Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Elgar: Cello Concerto, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/elgar-concerto-i), One of the most iconic openings in the cello repertoire, a wrenching recitative ascending across all four strings. Audition; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/saintsaens-concerto-1), Bursting cello entrance after a single orchestral chord. Pure athleticism. Audition; Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Fauré: Élégie](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/faure-elegie), A standard cello showpiece, grieving, songful, then thunderous in its central episode. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Bass clef.
- [Saint-Saëns: The Swan](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/saintsaens-swan), The most famous solo in the cello repertoire, the swan glides over rippling piano arpeggios. Comfortable; Romantic; Bass clef.
- [Bruch: Kol Nidrei](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/bruch-kol-nidrei), Bruch's setting of the Yom Kippur prayer for cello and orchestra. Deeply expressive cantorial line. Advanced; Late-Romantic; Bass clef.
- [Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi, cellos](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/debussy-faune), Languid, mysterious accompaniment to the famous flute solo. The dawn of musical Impressionism. Intermediate; Modern; Bass clef.
- [Stravinsky: Firebird, Berceuse](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/stravinsky-firebird-berceuse), Hushed lullaby that opens after the firebird's capture, cellos rock gently in the lower register. Intermediate; Modern; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Stravinsky: Rite of Spring, Introduction](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/stravinsky-rite-intro), Strange, primordial wakening, odd meters, exposed harmonics and high tessitura. Advanced; Modern; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/shostakovich-5-i), The dotted-rhythm canon between low strings and violins that opens one of the great 20th-century symphonies. Advanced; Modern; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/shostakovich-concerto-1), The famous DSCH-derived motif. Sardonic, driving, written for Rostropovich. Audition; Modern; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, II, cellos](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/bartok-cfo-ii), The cellos enter as the third "couple" in Bartók's game of pairs, playing parallel sixths. Advanced; Modern; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet, Dance of the Knights](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/prokofiev-dance-knights), The thunderous Capulet dance, relentless, marcato, a staple of orchestra excerpts. Intermediate; Modern; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Sibelius: Symphony No. 2, II, pizz opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/sibelius-2-ii), Cellos and basses pizzicato a long mysterious walking line that opens the slow movement. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Ravel: Boléro, opening cellos](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/ravel-bolero), The unmistakable repeating pizzicato cello/bass ostinato. Hypnotic precision required. Comfortable; Modern; Bass clef.
- [Holst: The Planets, Jupiter, noble theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/holst-jupiter), The famous "I vow to thee, my country" tune, broad, hymn-like, played in unison by all the strings. Comfortable; Modern; Tenor clef.
- [Vaughan Williams: Tallis Fantasia, pizz opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/vw-tallis), Mysterious pizzicato chords that open one of the great English string works. Comfortable; Modern; Bass clef.
- [Copland: Appalachian Spring, Simple Gifts](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/copland-appalachian), The cellos take the second variation of the Shaker hymn, pure American optimism. Comfortable; Modern; Bass clef.
- [Barber: Adagio for Strings, cello voice](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/barber-adagio), The most famous American adagio. Cellos contribute a slow, rising/falling line of immense pathos. Intermediate; Modern; Bass clef.
- [Handel: Sarabande in D minor](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/handel-sarabande), A solemn baroque sarabande, perfect for working on bow distribution and tone. Easy; Baroque; Bass clef.
- [Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, IV, low-string recit.](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/beethoven-9-iv), The cellos and basses speak, preparing the entry of the human voice. Every section of the world auditions on this. Audition; Classical; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mendelssohn: Italian Symphony, I, cello accomp.](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mendelssohn-italian-i), The driving cello/bass eighth-note accompaniment under the joyful violin theme. Intermediate; Romantic; Bass clef.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello