Violin excerpt · Audition repertoire
Bartók, Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116
Angular, fast, rhythmically irregular string writing that tests counting and articulation as much as the fingers.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Violin
- Composer
- Béla Bartók
- Work
- Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116
- Era
- Modern (c. 1910–1950)
- Composed
- 1943
- Clef
- Treble 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
Articulation markings are precise and varied, Bartók means the difference between an accent, a dot, and a tenuto.
Where it goes wrong
Metre changes are the real difficulty. Count out loud away from the instrument before playing a note.
Style
The folk-derived rhythm should sound driven and slightly earthy rather than smoothed out.
Tags
Work on the technique underneath
Arco's violin curriculum builds the bow strokes, positions, and clef reading this excerpt assumes, with recorded violin playback throughout.