Violin excerpt · Audition repertoire
Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
I. Allegro non troppo
The chain of falling thirds that opens the symphony. Exposed, lyrical, and unforgiving about the shape of each two-note gesture.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Violin
- Composer
- Johannes Brahms
- Work
- Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
- Movement
- I. Allegro non troppo
- Era
- Romantic (c. 1820–1880)
- Composed
- 1885
- Tempo
- Allegro non troppo
- Clef
- Treble clef
- Level
- Advanced, conservatory 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
Warm and sustained, with the bow change disguised. An audible change breaks the line into fragments.
Where it goes wrong
The intervals are wide enough that intonation drifts; check the thirds against each other rather than note by note.
Style
Each pair of notes is a sigh, not two equal notes, the second should be lighter and shorter than the first.
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.