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

The viola benchmark for a light, fast, even stroke at a quiet dynamic. Appears on almost every audition list.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Felix Mendelssohn

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

- **Movement:** Scherzo

- **Era:** Romantic (c. 1820–1880)

- **Clef:** Alto clef

- **Difficulty:** Audition

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

A light off-string stroke found near the balance point. The heavier viola bow makes the bounce harder to find than on a violin, the contact point usually needs to be slightly closer to the frog.

## Where it goes wrong

Evenness over speed. Practise in rhythmic variations to find which note is consistently late.

## Style

Quiet and weightless throughout; the excerpt tests control, not projection.

## Techniques

audition, fast, soft, spiccato, famous

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

- [Smetana: The Bartered Bride, Overture](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/viola/smetana-bartered-bride-viola), Sustained fast fugal string writing at a tempo that leaves no margin. A stamina and clarity test. Audition; Romantic; Alto clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Brahms: Haydn Variations, Variation VI](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/viola/brahms-haydn-variations-viola), A standard Brahms viola excerpt testing rhythmic precision and a full sound in the middle register. Advanced; Romantic; Alto clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture, viola melody](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/viola/berlioz-roman-carnival-viola), The lyrical viola melody near the opening, one of the few moments in the repertoire where the section carries the tune outright. Advanced; Romantic; Alto clef. Standard audition excerpt.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/viola/mendelssohn-midsummer-scherzo-viola