Violin excerpt · Audition repertoire
Schumann, Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61
II. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Perpetual-motion sixteenth notes at a fast tempo, sustained far longer than feels comfortable. A stamina and evenness test as much as a technical one.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Violin
- Composer
- Robert Schumann
- Work
- Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61
- Movement
- II. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
- Era
- Romantic (c. 1820–1880)
- Composed
- 1846
- Tempo
- Allegro vivace
- 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
An on-string détaché near the middle. The stroke has to stay identical for a long time, which is the actual difficulty.
Where it goes wrong
Right-arm fatigue changes the sound before the notes fail. Practise the full length rather than only the opening bars.
String crossings must be planned; the bow arm level, not the fingers, is usually what breaks down.
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.