# Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 ("Eroica")

Fast, quiet, and relentlessly rhythmic. The scherzo opens sempre pianissimo, which is where most of the difficulty lives.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Ludwig van Beethoven

- **Work:** Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 ("Eroica")

- **Movement:** III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace

- **Era:** Classical (c. 1750–1820)

- **Composed:** 1804

- **Tempo:** Allegro vivace

- **Clef:** Treble clef

- **Difficulty:** Advanced

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

A very light off-string or brushed stroke, kept quiet. The challenge is producing articulation at pianissimo without the note failing to speak.

## Where it goes wrong

Players almost universally play this louder than written. The dynamic is the excerpt.

## Style

The pulse must stay absolutely even, Beethoven builds the movement on rhythmic drive, and any unsteadiness is immediately audible.

## Techniques

symphony, audition, fast, soft, rhythm

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

- [Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, III, Adagio](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/violin/beethoven-9-iii), A sustained lyrical excerpt with almost nowhere to hide. Tests sound, bow control, and the ability to shape a long line at a very slow tempo. Audition; Classical; Treble clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mozart: Symphony No. 39, II, Andante](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/violin/mozart-39-ii), The standard classical-style test. Nothing here is technically hard, which is exactly why it is difficult, every choice of bow, note length, and dynamic is audible. Advanced; Classical; Treble clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mozart: Haffner Symphony, IV, Presto](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/violin/mozart-35-iv), A fast, light classical finale that tests clarity at speed. The instruction in the score is famously to play it as fast as possible. Advanced; Classical; Treble clef. Standard audition excerpt.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/violin/beethoven-3-iii