Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Elgar, Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
I. Adagio – Moderato (opening recitative)
One of the most iconic openings in the cello repertoire, a wrenching recitative ascending across all four strings.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Edward Elgar
- Work
- Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
- Movement
- I. Adagio – Moderato (opening recitative)
- Era
- Late-Romantic (c. 1880–1910)
- Composed
- 1919
- Key
- E
- Metre
- 4/4
- Tempo
- Nobilmente · ♩ ≈ 60
- Clef
- Tenor 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
Massive down-bows on each chord, full bow, dig in but don't crunch.
Fingering
Practice the four-string sweep separately. Land each note in tune cold.
Style
Nobilmente, Elgar's favorite marking. Dignified grief.
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.