The art of auditioning

Janet Krause

ABSTRACT Main subject: Violin Research Supervisors: Kathryn Cok Martine van der Loo Title of Research: The Art of Auditioning Research Question: What aspects should be considered in preparation for a successful violin audition? Summary of Results: An orchestral audition, and specifically to this paper, a violin audition, is possibly the least musically satisfying experience of one’s life. However, it is a necessary part of the path leading to a fulfilling life as an orchestral musician. The preparation for an audition certainly has specific aspects which need to be considered. This paper discusses these aspects, based in large part on my experiences as a Principal in The Hague Philharmonic and as a committee member at auditions for many years. As a violin and chamber music teacher as well as the teacher of the orchestral classes at the conservatoires in The Hague and Amsterdam, I have collected a wealth of experience training students to be successful at auditions. Besides the aspects of how to apply for an orchestral audition, which repertoire needs to be prepared, (including many orchestral excerpts which I have bowed and provided with fingerings myself), how to prepare effectively and what to expect on the actual audition day, there is a large section devoted to the research I have performed concerning mental and physical preparation. Developing mental skills to withstand the stress associated with auditions is an important part of audition preparation. Finally, I have researched, by means of a series of questions online and live and Skype interviews, how experts and candidates experience auditions. This has put me in contact with leaders of orchestras from around the world. How the two groups have responded to similar questions has put me in the position to draw some conclusions as to what committees expect at auditions and how this differs from the candidates’ viewpoints. In analyzing this research, and recognizing similarities in what I written from my own research and personal experience, I am able to draw some conclusions and make recommendations about how candidates could prepare better and be more successful at auditions. Biography: Janet Krause is Principal Second Violinist in The Hague Philharmonic and also a violin, chamber music and orchestral studies teacher at The Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. She is also teaching orchestral studies at the Conservatoire in Amsterdam. Born in Canada, she completed her Bachelor of Music in Performance at the University of Toronto, having studied with Lorand Fenyves. Moving to the Netherlands, she completed her solo-diploma at the Conservatory in Amsterdam, studying with Davina van Wely. She was a member of the Salzburger Solisten for many years and. primarius of the Dufy Quartet. Presently she is also Principal of the Solistes Européens in Luxembourg.

2.6 FIRST VIOLIN EXCERPTS

COMPOSER	WORK	MOVEMENT	Measure (m.), Letter (L.) or number (No.)
Bartók, B.	Concerto for Orchestra (1943)	l. Introduzione-Andante non troppo V. Finale	m. 51-94 m. 277-317
	Divertimento (1919)	1. Allegro non troppo	m. 1-32
Beethoven, L.von	Symphony No.1 in C major, Op.21 (1800)	lV. Adagio-Allegro molto e vivace	m. 1-78
	Symphony No.3 in Eb major ,Op.55 (1804)	lll. Scherzo	m.1-68
	Symphony No.4 in Bb major, Op.60 (1806)	lV.Allegro ma non troppo	m.1-118
	Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op.125 (1824)	ll. Scherzo lll. Adagio molto e cantabile	m.9-85 m.99-115
	Leonore Overture No.3, Op.72b (1805)		m.514-539
Berlioz, H.	Symphonie Fantastique (1830)	l. Réveries-Passions lV. The Procession to the Stake	m.17-24 m.135-154
Bizet, G.	Symphony in C (1855)	ll. Andante-Adagio lV. Finale Allegro vivace	No.3-5 m.5-no.2
Brahms, J.	Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op.68 (1876)	l. Un poco sostenuto lV. Adagio	m.1-29 m.21-28
	Symphony No.2 in D major, Op.73 (1877)	l. Allegro non troppo	m.17-66 m.118-156
	Symphony No.3 in F major, Op.90 (1883)	l. Allegro con brio	m.1-B
	Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op.98 (1885)	lll. Allegro Giocoso lV. Allegro energico e passionate	m.1-63 m.33-81
Bruckner, A.	Symphony No.9 in D minor (1896)	lll. Trio lV. Adagio	m.158-262 m.1-7
Debussy, C.	La Mer (1905)	ll. Jeux de Vagues	No.19-20 No.35-39
Glinka, M.	Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla (1842)		m.1-5 bars before B
Haydn, J.	Symphony No.83 in G minor (1785)	lV. Finale	m.1-35
	Symphony No 94 in G major (1791)	lV. Finale	m.1-74
Mahler, G.	Symphony No.1 in D major (1888)	l. Langsam ll. Kräftig bewegt lV. Stürmisch bewegt	No.5 to 8 bars before No 8 No.8-No.11 No.16-No.18
	Symphony No.4 in G major (1900)	lll. Ruhevoll, poco adagio	5 bars after No.2 to 11 bars after No.3
	Symphony No.5 (1902)	lV. Adagietto	m.2-34
	Symphony No.9 (1909)	lV. Adagio	m.1-12
Mendelssohn, F.	Midsummer Night’s Dream Op.61 (1842)	Overture Scherzo	m.8-39 m.17-7 bars after D
	Symphony No.4 in A major, Op.90 (1833)	l. Allegro vivace	m.1-110
Mozart, W.A.	Overture Magic Flute K.620 (1791)	Allegro	m.5-48
	Overture The Marriage of Figaro K.492 (1786)	Presto	m.1 to A
	Overture Don Giovanni K.527 (1782)		m.32-76
	Overture The Abduction from the Seraglio K.384 (1782)		m.1-63
	Symphony No.29 in A major K.201 (1774)	l. Allegro moderato	m.1-77
	Symphony No.35 in D major K.385 (1782)	l. Allegro con spirito lV. Presto	m.1-66 m.1-80
	Symphony No. 39 in Eb major K.543 (1788)	lV. Allegro	m.1-41
	Symphony No. 41 in C major K.551 (1788)	lV. Allegro molto	m.1-94
Prokofiev, S.	Romeo and Juliet Op.64 (1939) Classical Symphony in D major Op.25 (1916-17)	The Montagues and Capulets Juliet as a Young Girl The Fight l. Allegro lV. Finale	3 bars after No.2 to 5 bars after No.5 No.50-53 No.26-30 m.1 to 5 bars after E m.1-No.52
Ravel, M.	La Valse (1920)		2 bars before No.20 to 7 bars after No.27
	Daphnis et Chloé, Second Suite (1912)	No.161-166 No.212-217	No.161-166 No.212-217
Rossini, G.	Overture La Gazza Ladra (1817)		Allegro to C
Schönberg, A.	Verklärte Nacht (1899)		m.159-181
Schubert, F.	Symphony No.2 in Bb major (1815)	l. Allegro vivace	m.1-48
	Symphony No.5 in Bb major (1816)	l. Allegro	m.1-92
Schumann, R.	Symphony Nr.2 in C major Op.61 (1846)	ll. Scherzo	m.1-55
Shostakovich, D.	Symphony No.5 in D minor Op.47 (1937)	l. Moderato-Allegro non troppo	m.1-32 m.217-246
Sibelius, J.	Symphony No.2 in D major Op.43 (1902)	lll. Vivacissimo	22 bars after H to 9 bars after J
Strauss, R.	Don Juan Op.20(1888)		First page
	Also Sprach Zarathustra Op.30 (1896)		No.3-No.6
Stravinsky, I.	Rite of Spring (1913)	l. Danses des adolescents	No.33 for 16 bars No.167-173
	Apollon Musagète (1928)		Coda
	Concerto in D (1946)	lll. Rondo	No.72-1 bar before No.78
Tchaikovsky, P.I.	Symphony No.6 in B minor Op.74 (1893)	lll. Allegro molto vivace	m.1-15
	Nutcracker Suite Op.71a (1892)	Overture	m.57-106
Weber, C. M. von	Overture Oberon (1826)	Allegro con fuoco	m.1-50

2.7 SECOND VIOLIN EXCERPTS

COMPOSER	WORK	MOVEMENT	MEASURE(M.) OR LETTER OR NUMBER(NO.)
Bartók, B.	Concerto for Orchestra (1943)	V. Finale	No.267-317
Beethoven, L.von	Symphony Nr.3 in Eb major, Op.55 (1804)	Scherzo	m.1-70
	Symphony Nr.6 in Fmajor, Op.68 (1808)	lV. Donner, Sturm, Allegro	m.3-20
	Symphony Nr.9 in Dminor, Op.125 (1824)	ll. Molto vivace	m.9-85
Berlioz, H.	Symphonie Fantastique (1830)	lV. The Procession to the Stake	m.135-154
Brahms, J.	Symphony Nr.1 in Cminor, Op.68 (1855-1876)	lV. Adagio	m.22-28
	Piano Concerto Nr.1 in Dminor, Op.15 (1858)	Finale	m.238-264
Bruckner, A.	Symphony Nr.9 in Dminor (1896)	Finale	m.57-65 m.129-139
Elgar, E.	Enigma Variations Op.36 (1899)	ll. Allegro	No.5-8
Mahler, G.	Symphony Nr.4 in Gmajor (1900)	lll. Ruhevoll(Poco adagio)	m.17 to 7 bars after No.1
	Symphony Nr.9 (1909)	lV. Adagio	M.1-11
Mendelssohn, F.	Midsummer Night’s Dream Op.61 (1842)	Scherzo	m.17-D
Mozart, W.A.	Overture The Magic Flute K.620 (1791)	Allegro	m.16-59
	Symphony Nr.39 in Ebmajor K.543(1788)	Finale	m.1-42
	Symphony Nr.41 in Cmajor K.551 (1788)	lV. Molto Allegro	m.1-36
Prokofiev, S.	Classical Symphony in Dmajor, Op.25 (1917)	Finale	F-K
Rachmaninoff, S.	Symphony Nr.2 in Eminor,Op.27 (1907)	ll. Meno Mosso	No.32-35
Ravel, M.	Daphnis et Chloé, 2^nd Suite (1912)		No.197-199
Schonberg, A.	Verklärte Nacht (1899)		No.251-270
Schubert, F.	Symphony Nr.4 in Cminor (1816)	lV. Finale	A-B
Shostakovich, D.	Symphony Nr.5 in Dminor, Op.47 (1937)	lll. Largo, third violin part Second violin part	m.1-No.78 No.94-96
Strauss, R.	Don Juan, Op.20 (1888)		First page
	Ein Heldenleben, Op.40 (1898)		No.94 to 3 bars after No.97
	Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op.30 (1896)		5 bars after No.14 to 8 bars after No.17
Stravinsky, I.	Concerto in D (1946)	lll. Rondo	m.1 to 2 bars before No.81
	Symphony in 3 Movements (1945)	lll. Con moto	No.185 to 194
	Apollon Musagète (1928)	Coda	Coda to No.86

Bartok Concerto for Orchestra

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Bartok Concerto for Orchestra Finale

Bartok Concerto for Orchestra Finale(2)

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Bartok Divertimento

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Beethoven Symphony No.1 Finale

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Beethoven Symphony No.3 Scherzo

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