Need help choosing an orchestral excerpt

[BrianMcAnally]

Hey guys, I'm going to audition for a youth orchestra pretty soon and one of the requirements is to play two contrasting orchestral excerpts. I already decided I'm probably going to play an excerpt of Ein Heldenleben. Anyone have an ideas of what I could play "contrasting" to that?

[thewhale]

Heldenleben is no small feat. Bravo to you for choosing it for a youth orchestra audition. A good contrast to Strauss could be an excerpt from any Mozart symphony or overture. When I choose excerpts to contrast each other I usually try to choose by time periods. To contrast a late romantic like Strauss, choose something classical or baroque like Mozart or Bach. I personally think it is more important to find pieces with contrasting style rather than simply choosing pieces with contrasting dynamics or tempos. That is assuming that you can identify those contrasting styles and play them accordingly.

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by BrianMcAnally

Hey guys, I'm going to audition for a youth orchestra pretty soon and one of the requirements is to play two contrasting orchestral excerpts. I already decided I'm probably going to play an excerpt of Ein Heldenleben. Anyone have an ideas of what I could play "contrasting" to that?

Well, try an excerpt from a completely different style. Ein Heldenleben is incredibly loud and heavy...So try something that's a bit softer and utilizes different bow techniques. A good and very challenging excerpt would be Haydn 88. Excellent to show off your bow technique. Or perhaps Mozart the Marriage of Figaro.

[koricancowboy]

How about the Badinerie from Bach's orchestral Suite #2

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by koricancowboy

How about the Badinerie from Bach's orchestral Suite #2

That's another good one to test your knowledge of stroke.

[kurt muroki]

Yeah, Bach... good choice

[Peter Ferretti]

Go with the first movement of one of the Mozart Symphonies. They are pretty and fun to play. However, the panel will be able to tell where you stand as a musician and a player within four bars.

39 is fun, 35 is fun. Go for it.