Double bass excerpt · Audition repertoire
Mahler, Symphony No. 1 in D major
III. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen
The unaccompanied solo bass statement of Frère Jacques in the minor. The most famous solo in the orchestral bass repertoire, and completely exposed.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Double bass
- Composer
- Gustav Mahler
- Work
- Symphony No. 1 in D major
- Movement
- III. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen
- Era
- Late-Romantic (c. 1880–1910)
- Composed
- 1888
- Clef
- Bass clef
- Level
- Audition, professional standard
- Audition list
- Yes, standard excerpt
How to practise it
The bow style, the trouble spots, and the stylistic decisions that come up most often on this excerpt.
Bowing
A sustained, even stroke with a clear but unaccented start. Muted in the score, which changes how the bow must engage the string.
Where it goes wrong
Entirely unaccompanied, so intonation has no reference. It sits high enough that the sound thins easily if the bow is not committed.
Nerves show up here more than anywhere. Practise it cold, first thing, with no warm-up run.
Style
Marked to be solemn and measured but not dragging, Mahler is explicit. The character is eerie, not mournful.
Tags
Work on the technique underneath
Arco's bass curriculum builds the bow strokes, positions, and clef reading this excerpt assumes, with recorded bass playback throughout.