Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Schumann, Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129
I. Nicht zu schnell
A noble, melancholy opening. Schumann marked it "not too fast", discipline trumps speed.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Robert Schumann
- Work
- Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129
- Movement
- I. Nicht zu schnell
- Era
- Romantic (c. 1820–1880)
- Composed
- 1850
- Key
- C
- Metre
- 4/4
- Tempo
- Nicht zu schnell · ♩ ≈ 84
- 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
Long bows on the slurs, use full hair, sing the line.
Style
Schumann's indication: "with passion, but not too fast." Yearning, never hurried.
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.