Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 ("Choral")
IV. Presto (cello/bass recitative)
The cellos and basses speak, preparing the entry of the human voice. Every section of the world auditions on this.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Work
- Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 ("Choral")
- Movement
- IV. Presto (cello/bass recitative)
- Era
- Classical (c. 1750–1820)
- Composed
- 1824
- Key
- D
- Metre
- 4/4
- Tempo
- Recitativo, ma in tempo · ♩ ≈ 66
- 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
Section unison, the principal cellist sets the rhythmic feel.
Where it goes wrong
The most-asked audition excerpt for cello, period.
Style
Like a speech. Every gesture has rhetorical meaning.
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.