Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64
No. 13, Dance of the Knights
The thunderous Capulet dance, relentless, marcato, a staple of orchestra excerpts.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Sergei Prokofiev
- Work
- Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64
- Movement
- No. 13, Dance of the Knights
- Era
- Modern (c. 1910–1950)
- Composed
- 1935
- Key
- E
- Metre
- 4/4
- Tempo
- Allegro pesante · ♩ ≈ 72
- Clef
- Bass clef
- Level
- Intermediate, university 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
Heavy marcato, full bow, dig in. The conductor's ictus is everything.
Style
Menacing, ceremonial, the Capulets in full power.
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.