Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
I. Allegro con brio
The most famous four notes in Western music. Bass section plays in unison, total rhythmic clarity is everything.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Work
- Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
- Movement
- I. Allegro con brio
- Era
- Classical (c. 1750–1820)
- Composed
- 1808
- Key
- C
- Metre
- 2/4
- Tempo
- Allegro con brio · ♩ ≈ 108
- Clef
- Bass clef
- Level
- Intermediate, university 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
All down-bows on the three eighth pickups, short, even, no crescendo.
Where it goes wrong
The fermata on the half note must be timed exactly with the conductor; do not anticipate.
Style
Beethoven's Allegro con brio is fierce, not fast, protect the rhythm.
Tags
The full score is on IMSLP.
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.