Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Wagner, Tristan und Isolde, Prelude
Langsam und schmachtend
The most famous opening in Romantic music. Cellos rise to F, then the legendary "Tristan chord" hangs.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Richard Wagner
- Work
- Tristan und Isolde, Prelude
- Movement
- Langsam und schmachtend
- Era
- Late-Romantic (c. 1880–1910)
- Composed
- 1859
- Key
- C
- Metre
- 6/8
- Tempo
- Langsam und schmachtend · ♩ ≈ 50
- 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
Long, sighing line, barely move the bow. Tone, not speed.
Style
Sehnsucht, yearning. Every note expressive.
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.