Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ("Italian")
IV. Saltarello, Presto
A breakneck saltarello finale. The cello running passages demand crystal-clear off-string articulation.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Felix Mendelssohn
- Work
- Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ("Italian")
- Movement
- IV. Saltarello, Presto
- Era
- Romantic (c. 1820–1880)
- Composed
- 1833
- Key
- A
- Metre
- 4/4
- Tempo
- Presto · ♩ ≈ 144
- 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
Spiccato in the upper-middle of the bow, controlled bounce, not flying.
Where it goes wrong
Practice slowly with metronome, then incrementally to tempo, the string crossings are vicious.
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.