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

The benchmark test for a light, fast, controlled stroke. Fairy music at speed, played quietly, with total evenness.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Felix Mendelssohn

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

- **Movement:** Scherzo

- **Era:** Romantic (c. 1820–1880)

- **Clef:** Treble clef

- **Difficulty:** Audition

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

A sautillé or very light spiccato found near the balance point, the bounce comes from the stick, not from lifting the arm.

## Where it goes wrong

Unevenness shows up immediately at this speed. Practising in dotted and reverse-dotted rhythms exposes which finger or bow change is late.

## Style

Quiet and weightless. The excerpt is testing control, not power.

## 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

- [Schumann: Symphony No. 2, II, Scherzo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/violin/schumann-2-scherzo), Perpetual-motion sixteenth notes at a fast tempo, sustained far longer than feels comfortable. A stamina and evenness test as much as a technical one. Audition; Romantic; Treble clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Brahms: Symphony No. 4, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/violin/brahms-4-i-violin), The chain of falling thirds that opens the symphony. Exposed, lyrical, and unforgiving about the shape of each two-note gesture. Advanced; Romantic; Treble clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Brahms: Symphony No. 1, IV, big tune](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/violin/brahms-1-iv-violin), The broad string melody of the finale. Technically approachable, which puts all the weight on sound and phrasing. Intermediate; Romantic; Treble clef. Standard audition excerpt.

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