TheBaker

I'm starting University in about a month and I'm keen to get involved with the orchestras at University. I've been told that I will have to audition, but I haven't been told what pieces they want to hear at the audition and my understanding is that it's down to me to choose what pieces to play and impress them with.

But because I haven't really done a proper audition like this, I'm a little unsure of what pieces might go down well. I've got a month to work on it, and I'm not too bothered about buying a piece or two - so can you suggest some pieces that I could play?

I don't know what happens about accompanists either, so if your suggestions encompassed both solo and accompanied pieces that would be fantastic.

Thanks.

Btnbrass

Well haydn is always a good one. Here is a list of common orchestra audition excerpts * Bach, J.S.
o Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Movements I and III) (very hard, typically major orchestras only)
o Mass in B Minor (Credo)
o Christmas Oratorio (No. 64 Nun Seid Ihr Wohl Gerochen)
o Magnificat (Chorus: Magnificat)
* Bartók
o Concerto for Orchestra (Movements I, II, and V)
* Beethoven
o Leonore Overture No. 2
o Leonore Overture No. 3
* Georges Bizet
o Carmen (Prelude to Act I)
* Johannes Brahms
o Academic Festive Overture
o Symphony No.2
* Copland
o An Outdoor Overture
o "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo
* Debussy
o La Mer
o Fêtes from Nocturnes (Muted Trio & Open Section 13-14)
* George Gershwin
o An American in Paris (excerpts and solos)
o Concerto in F (Movement II)
* Mahler
o Symphony No. 1 (Movement I)
o Symphony No. 2 (Movements I, II, III, V)
o Symphony No. 3 (Off-stage Posthorn solo)
o Symphony No. 5 (Movements I, III, V)
* Modest Mussorgsky arr. Maurice Ravel
o Pictures at an Exhibition (Promenade; Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuÿle)
* Ravel
o Piano Concerto in G (Movement I)
o Boléro (Muted Theme and Ending)
* Ottorino Respighi
o Pines of Rome (Movements I, II & IV)
* Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
o Scheherazade (Movment III&IV)
o Capriccio Espagnol (Movement IV)
* Shostakovich
o Piano Concerto (All Movements)
* Richard Strauss
o Eine Alpensinfonie (section "Auf dem Gletscher")
o Don Juan (Opening through Sec. B, Weich Solo, Vivo Solo, Sec. P)
o Ein Heldenleben (1st E-flat part and 1st Bb part)
* Igor Stravinsky
o The Firebird (Infernal Dance) (any version)
o Petrushka - 1st Cornet in 1911 version and 1st Trumpet in 1947 version
o The Rite of Spring (any version)
* Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
o Symphony No.4 (opening)
o Capriccio Italien
o Le Chocolat (Danse Espaniole) from the Ballet: Nutcracker, Act II: No. 12
* Richard Wagner
o Prelude to Parsifal
o Overture from Die Meistersinger

Good luck!

bagmangood

I'd agree with all of the excerpts
but for the solo I'd also suggest the Hummel

WhatIsHip?

The Artunian sp? is also a classic.

rowuk

Baker,
forget the term "impress them". That is nothing that you can DO. Without knowing what they are looking for, you could very well guess wrongly as to what impresses a seasoned jury! If you are well prepared, play rhythmically with a nice sound and with attention to dynamics, you have already put yourself in the top 20%.

I sort the good and the great by RHYTHM alone. The first couple of bars of the Haydn (yes - simply some half quarters and 8th notes) tell me if the player has prepared the piece or only looked at the "hard parts". It is amazing how many otherwise fine players cannot play the first couple of bars in strict time. When you ask them why, they realize that they never really paid attention to that...........

Try and find out who has played in the orchestra and what they had to audition with. Check out what they played the last couple of semesters! Read up on those composers. That would be excerpts that they are familiar with AND you show interest in the program and attention to detail! Use those to audition with!

I can't imagine needing all of that stuff to get into the university orchestra! Learning to play those things is the REASON that you are there!

If you are practicing the excerpts, do your self a BIG favor and use a metronome. Rhythm is a big problem (probably the biggest) in an orchestra, loud, fast and high almost NEVER. A late pick-up note is a common sign of trouble!

__________________
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