# Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61 (incidental music)

Fairy-light Mendelssohn scherzo passage, the textbook test of clean, even, soft spiccato.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Felix Mendelssohn

- **Work:** A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61 (incidental music)

- **Movement:** Scherzo (Allegro vivace)

- **Era:** Romantic (c. 1820–1880)

- **Composed:** 1843

- **Key:** G

- **Metre:** 3/8

- **Tempo:** Allegro vivace (dotted quarter) approximately 84 BPM

- **Clef:** Bass clef

- **Difficulty:** Audition

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

Sixteenths must sound like raindrops, pp, even, never aggressive.

## Where it goes wrong

Bow weight is the enemy. Use the natural bounce, fingers loose.

## Style

Play above the string, not into it. Imagine a fairy ring.

## Techniques

audition, spiccato, soft, precise

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: 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: 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. 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.
- [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.
- [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.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mendelssohn-mnd-scherzo