How difficult is the Mozart Symphony No. 40, I, cello accomp. cello excerpt?

It is rated comfortable, community and youth orchestra. It is not a standard audition excerpt, but it is frequently studied. The cellos and basses provide the famous pulsing accompaniment to the violin theme.

What clef is the Mozart Symphony No. 40, I, cello accomp. cello part in?

The excerpt is written in bass clef, in Bb, in 4/4, marked Molto allegro, at roughly 132 beats per minute.

Cello excerpt

Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550

I. Molto allegro

The cellos and basses provide the famous pulsing accompaniment to the violin theme.

At a glance

Instrument: Cello
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Work: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Movement: I. Molto allegro
Era: Classical (c. 1750–1820)
Composed: 1788
Key: Bb
Metre: 4/4
Tempo: Molto allegro · ♩ ≈ 132
Clef: Bass clef
Level: Comfortable, community and youth orchestra
Audition list: Not a 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

Light staccato, never heavy, never percussive.

symphony
classical
accompaniment

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.

Create an account The cello curriculum

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, I, opening
The most famous four notes in Western music. Bass section plays in unison, total rhythmic clarity is everything.
Intermediate · Audition
Classical · 1808 · C · 2/4 · Allegro con brio
Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, III, scherzo
The cello/bass fugato of the Trio, a notorious string excerpt for clarity, off-string articulation, and ensemble.
Advanced · Audition
Classical · 1808 · C · 3/4 · Allegro
Boccherini, Cello Concerto in B♭, I, opening
Boccherini's most famous concerto opening, galant style, virtuosic, requiring brilliance and clarity in upper positions.
Advanced · Audition
Classical · 1770 · Bb · 4/4 · Allegro moderato
Haydn, Cello Concerto in C, I, opening solo
Bright, optimistic classical opening, every cellist learns this concerto.
Advanced · Audition
Classical · 1765 · C · 4/4 · Moderato
Haydn, Cello Concerto in D, I, opening solo
The other Haydn concerto. Elegant, lyrical, and a staple of every audition list.
Advanced · Audition
Classical · 1783 · D · 4/4 · Allegro moderato
Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, IV, low-string recit.
The cellos and basses speak, preparing the entry of the human voice. Every section of the world auditions on this.
Audition · Audition
Classical · 1824 · D · 4/4 · Recitativo, ma in tempo

All classical excerpts

At a glance

How to practise it

Bowing

Tags

Work on the technique underneath

Related excerpts

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, I, opening

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, III, scherzo

Boccherini, Cello Concerto in B♭, I, opening

Haydn, Cello Concerto in C, I, opening solo

Haydn, Cello Concerto in D, I, opening solo

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, IV, low-string recit.

At a glance

How to practise it

Bowing

Tags

Work on the technique underneath

Related excerpts

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, I, opening

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, III, scherzo

Boccherini, Cello Concerto in B♭, I, opening

Haydn, Cello Concerto in C, I, opening solo

Haydn, Cello Concerto in D, I, opening solo

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, IV, low-string recit.