Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
I. Allegro non troppo (cello second theme)
The cellos and horn give out the noble second theme, broad, declamatory, and rhythmically precise.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Johannes Brahms
- Work
- Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
- Movement
- I. Allegro non troppo (cello second theme)
- Era
- Romantic (c. 1820–1880)
- Composed
- 1885
- Key
- B
- Metre
- 2/2
- Tempo
- Allegro non troppo · ♩ ≈ 76
- 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
Detaché on the quarters, broadly slurred on the dotted halves into the resolution.
Fingering
Plan shifts up to F#4 / G#4 ahead of time, they need to land in tune at tempo.
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.