Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
III. Allegro (Trio, celli & basses)
The cello/bass fugato of the Trio, a notorious string excerpt for clarity, off-string articulation, and ensemble.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Work
- Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
- Movement
- III. Allegro (Trio, celli & basses)
- Era
- Classical (c. 1750–1820)
- Composed
- 1808
- Key
- C
- Metre
- 3/4
- Tempo
- Allegro · ♩ ≈ 96
- 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
Off-string spiccato in the lower half, light, springy, never digging in.
Fingering
The opening C2-G2-C3 ascending arpeggio: extension fingerings, keep the hand frame relaxed.
Where it goes wrong
Don't accent beat 1 of every bar, the phrase is a long line across measures.
Style
Soft (pp) and mysterious, most players play it too loud.
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.