# Brahms, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

One of the most beloved cello-section excerpts in the repertoire, a long, singing tenor-clef line that opens the slow movement.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Johannes Brahms

- **Work:** Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

- **Movement:** II. Adagio non troppo

- **Era:** Romantic (c. 1820–1880)

- **Composed:** 1877

- **Key:** B

- **Metre:** 4/4

- **Tempo:** Adagio non troppo approximately 56 BPM

- **Clef:** Tenor clef

- **Difficulty:** Audition

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

Long, sustained legato, full bow per slur, even speed and weight.

## Fingering

Stay on the A and D strings as much as possible for tone color, avoid open strings.

## Where it goes wrong

Tenor clef, drill the reading separately from the bow until it's automatic.

## Style

Vibrato continuous and warm. This is one long phrase, not five short ones.

## Techniques

symphony, audition, tenor-clef, lyrical, section

## Score reference

[IMSLP reference](https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.2,_Op.73_(Brahms,_Johannes))

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

- [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: 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.
- [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.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/brahms-2-ii