# Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ("Italian")

A breakneck saltarello finale. The cello running passages demand crystal-clear off-string articulation.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Felix Mendelssohn

- **Work:** Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ("Italian")

- **Movement:** IV. Saltarello, Presto

- **Era:** Romantic (c. 1820–1880)

- **Composed:** 1833

- **Key:** A

- **Metre:** 4/4

- **Tempo:** Presto approximately 144 BPM

- **Clef:** Bass clef

- **Difficulty:** Advanced

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

Spiccato in the upper-middle of the bow, controlled bounce, not flying.

## Where it goes wrong

Practice slowly with metronome, then incrementally to tempo, the string crossings are vicious.

## Techniques

symphony, audition, spiccato, fast

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

- [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.
- [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.
- [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.
- [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.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mendelssohn-italian-iv