Double bass excerpt · Audition repertoire
Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
I. Molto allegro
The pulsing accompaniment that opens the symphony, and the running bass line that follows. Tests classical style and rhythmic discipline.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Double bass
- Composer
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Work
- Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
- Movement
- I. Molto allegro
- Era
- Classical (c. 1750–1820)
- Composed
- 1788
- Tempo
- Molto allegro
- Clef
- Bass clef
- Level
- Advanced, conservatory level
- 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
Short strokes with consistent length. Note endings matter as much as beginnings.
Where it goes wrong
Any unevenness in the pulse is immediately audible because the entire texture rests on it.
Style
The repeated notes are an accompaniment, not a statement, even, quiet, and completely regular.
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.