Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Brahms, Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
III. Poco allegretto
The famous wistful melody (familiar from many film scores). Cello section sings the principal tune.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Johannes Brahms
- Work
- Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
- Movement
- III. Poco allegretto
- Era
- Romantic (c. 1820–1880)
- Composed
- 1883
- Key
- C
- Metre
- 3/8
- Tempo
- Poco allegretto · ♩ ≈ 92
- Clef
- Tenor 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
Slurs across bar lines, carry the line, don't articulate the downbeat.
Style
Rubato within the bar, but never lose the underlying 3/8 lilt.
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.