Cello excerpt
Barber, Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
Molto adagio
The most famous American adagio. Cellos contribute a slow, rising/falling line of immense pathos.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Samuel Barber
- Work
- Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
- Movement
- Molto adagio
- Era
- Modern (c. 1910–1950)
- Composed
- 1936
- Key
- Bb
- Metre
- 4/2
- Tempo
- Molto adagio · ♩ ≈ 50
- Clef
- Bass clef
- Level
- Intermediate, university level
- Audition list
- Not a 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
Imperceptibly slow bow, the listener should not hear bow changes.
Style
Held breath. No vibrato pulse, wide, slow, generous.
Tags
Work on the technique underneath
Arco's cello curriculum builds the bow strokes, positions, and clef reading this excerpt assumes, with recorded cello playback throughout.