Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
II. Andante sostenuto
Hushed, expansive opening. The cellos provide the harmonic foundation under the violin theme, total bow control.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Johannes Brahms
- Work
- Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
- Movement
- II. Andante sostenuto
- Era
- Romantic (c. 1820–1880)
- Composed
- 1876
- Key
- E
- Metre
- 3/4
- Tempo
- Andante sostenuto · ♩ ≈ 60
- 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
Whole-bow per dotted half, slow, even, sul tasto color.
Style
pp throughout. The cellos are the carpet under the violin melody.
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.