Violin excerpt · Audition repertoire
Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
IV. Allegro non troppo, ma con brio
The broad string melody of the finale. Technically approachable, which puts all the weight on sound and phrasing.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Violin
- Composer
- Johannes Brahms
- Work
- Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
- Movement
- IV. Allegro non troppo, ma con brio
- Era
- Romantic (c. 1820–1880)
- Composed
- 1876
- Clef
- Treble 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
Full, sustained bow with a warm contact point. The tune has to carry over the whole orchestra without being forced.
Where it goes wrong
Because the section plays it together, matching bowings and note lengths matters more than individual expression.
Style
Shape it as one long line to the peak rather than bar by bar. Brahms writes the phrase longer than the bowing suggests.
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.