Repertoire for Auditions
The works listed below are merely examples of acceptable repertoire and represent only a small number of the possible pieces that would be appropriate for an audition. Prospective students are encouraged to consult with their private teachers and select works that best represent their level of achievement. Unless otherwise noted (please check below) the audition should consist of two contrasting movements or pieces, one fast/technical and the other slow/lyrical. Additional questions should be directed to the appropriate Crane faculty member found on the Crane faculty page.
BASSOON
Besozzi, Sonata; Galliard, Six Sonatas; Fasch, Sonata; Telemann, Sonata in F Minor; Hurlstone, Sonata in F; Mozart, Concerto; Rosetti, Concerto in B Flat; Saint-Saëns, Sonata in G; Vivaldi, Concerti; Weber, Concerto in F, Weber, Hungarian Fantasy; Hummel, Concerto.
CELLO
Handel, Sonata in C Major, Sonata in G Major, Sonata in E Minor; J.S. Bach, Suites for Cello; Saint-Saëns, Concerto; Boccherini, Concerto in B Flat; Fauré, Elegy.
CLARINET
All candidates on clarinet must prepare one Level 5-6 NYSSMA solos such as Mozart or Weber Concertos, Weber Concertino, Poulenc Sonata, or equivalent repertoire, two contrasting etudes (fast/slow; Rose: 32 Etudes is recommended), and all major scales, in 16th notes, quarter note = 80. (E,F,F#, & G - 3 octaves, all others - two octaves). In addition, sightreading will be a part of the audition. If you have any questions about repertoire selections, please contact the clarinet studio faculty.
DOUBLE BASS
Marcello, Sonata in E Minor, Sonata in G Minor, Sonata in F Major, Sonata in A Minor; Simandl, Tempo de Polacca; Capuzzi, Concerto in D Major; Corelli, Sonata in D Minor; Vivaldi, Sonata No. 3 in A Minor, Sonata No. 5 in E Minor; Galliard, Sonata in F Major; Weinstein, Contemporary Modal Solos.
EUPHONIUM (for Tuba, please see below)
Barat, Andante and Allegro; Fasch, Sonata; Frackenpohl Sonata; Marcello, Sonatas; Telemann, Fantasies or Sonatas; Capuzzi, Andante and Rondo; Clinard, Sonata; David, Concertino; Horovitz, Concerto; White, Lyric Suite
FLUTE
Students should be prepared to perform a minimum of two contrasting sections or movements from two contrasting styles or periods of music. In addition, students may be asked major and chromatic scales as well as an example of sight-reading. Repertoire: sonatas by J.S. Bach, Handel, Hindemith, Marcello, Poulenc, Telemann; concertos by Boccherini, Devienne, Haydn, Ibert, Mozart, Nielsen, Pergolesi, Quantz, Telemann; other solo pieces such as Bloch, Suite Modale; Chaminade, Concertino; Debussy, Syrinx; Donjon, Offertoire; Doppler, Hungarian Fantasie; Fauré, Fantasie or other French Conservatory pieces; Honegger, Danse de la Chèvre; Hüe, Serenade; Kennan, Night Soliloquy; suites and fantasies by Telemann and J.S. Bach. Other pieces of comparable difficulty also are acceptable.
CLASSICAL GUITAR
The audition must be played on a nylon-string classical guitar. Good music reading skills are essential. You will be asked to sight read single-line melodies up through the 5th position. In addition to the sight reading you should prepare the following: two major or minor Segovia scales, three octaves, using rest strokes and free strokes; a work by Bach, Weiss or Scarlatti; an etude by Sor (selected from the Segovia edition); and a 20th-century work at the difficulty level of a Villa-Lobos prelude. Works learned from tablature or by ear will not be accepted.
A representative etude such as Bochsa, Quarante Etudes Faciles, Op. 318. Two contrasting solo works illustrating different styles and techniques, at least one work to be performed from memory. Sight reading.
HORN
Mozart, Concertos Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4; Corelli, Sonatas; F. Strauss, Concerto; Beethoven, Sonata; Bozza, En Forêt; Hindemith, Sonata; Jacob, Concerto; Glière, Concerto; R. Strauss, Concertos Nos. 1, 2; Dukas, Villanelle; Wilder, Sonata No. 4; Schumann, Adagio-Allegro; Heiden, Sonata.
OBOE
Telemann, Six Partitas; Handel, Sonatas and Concertos; Cimarosa, Concerto; Marcello, Concerto in C Minor; Nielsen, Romance; Schumann, Three Romances; Mozart, Concerto; Haydn, Concerto; Telemann, Concerto in D Major; Hindemith, Sonata.
PERCUSSION
Snare solos and multiple percussion solos: Colgrass, Gauger, Petercsak, Firth, Albright, Cirone, Payson. Mallet solos for keyboard percussion instruments: Bach, Musser, Stout, Peters. Timpani solos: Price, Noak, Beck, Tcherepnine, McKenzie, Jones, Bergamo, Williams. Substitutions can be made from the Grade V and VI lists in the NYSSMA Manual.
PIANO
Students auditioning for Piano Performance will perform from memory four works for solo piano including: 1) a Three Part Invention or a Prelude and Fugue from the Well Tempered Clavier of J.S. Bach, 2) the first movement of a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Clementi 3) any work of Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, or Scriabin 4) a work by an impressionist or 20th century composer.
Students auditioning for all other degree programs will perform from memory three works for solo piano including: 1) a Two or Three Part Invention or a Prelude and Fugue from the Well Tempered Clavier of J.S. Bach, 2) the first movement of a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Clementi, 3) any work of Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin OR a work by an impressionist or 20th century composer.
Please note: piano auditions are available only on campus or at the Steinway Hall audition.
SAXOPHONE
Please be prepared to play one (1) lyrical and one (1) technical musical selection. Also, please be prepared to play all major, harmonic minor, and chromatic scales. The audition should display a level of technical and musical difficulty comparable to the following works:
J. Ibert: Concertino da Camera
W. Benson: Aeolian Song
P. Creston: Sonata
E. Bozza: Aria
B. Heiden: Sonata
A. Glazounov: Concerto
P. Maurice: Tableaux de Provence
In addition to the above requirements, playing jazz is encouraged. The jazz portion may be performed on the saxophone of the student's choice (soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone). For questions about repertoire, please contact Dr. Young at youngrc@potsdam.edu
TROMBONE
Tenor trombonists should select a lyrical etude from the Bordogni/Rochut "Melodious Etudes" Book I and a solo of a comparable level of the solos listed below: Guilmant, Morceau Symphonique; Galliard, Six Sonatas; Marcello, Sonatas; Barat, Andante and Allegro; White, Sonata; Giffels, Sonata; Serocki, Sonatina; Fasch, Sonata; Shostakovich, Four Preludes; Hindemith, Sonata; Davison, Sonata; Jacob, Concerto.
Bass Trombonists should also select a lyrical etude from the Bordogni/Rochut "Melodious Etudes" Book I (with the option of playing the selection an octave lower) and a solo of a comparable level of the solos listed below:
Jacob, Cameos; Lebedev, Concerto in One Movement; Galliard Six Sonatas; Ewazen, Concertino; Grantham, Sonata in One Movement; Gregson, Concerto; Hidas, Rhapsody; McCarty, Sonata; Mueller, Praeludium, Chorale, Variations and Fugue; Sache, Concertino; Semler-Collery, Barcarolle et Chanson; Wilder, Sonata.
TRUMPET
Corelli, Sonata No. 8; Balay, Prelude et Ballade; Albonini, Sonata in C; Handel, Sonata for Trumpet; Kennan, Sonata; Hartley, Sonatina; Hummel, Concerto; Haydn, Concerto; Hindemith, Sonata.
TUBA (for Euphonium, please see above)
Hindemith, Sonate; Vaughan Williams, Concerto; Capuzzi, Andante and Rondo; Gregson, Concerto; Lebdev, Concerto in One Movement; Marcello, Sonatas; Wilder, Suite No. 1; Hartley, Suite; Persichetti, Sernade No. 12; Vivaldi, Sonatas
VIOLA
Please prepare two contrasting works (one showing legato playing, and one faster), and be prepared to perform a randomly selected three-octave scale in major and melodic minor and a short sight-reading excerpt. Appropriate repertoire includes concertos by J.C. Bach, Bartok, Bloch, Handel, Hindemith, Hoffmeister, Hummel, Stamitz, Vaughan Williams or Walton, sonatas by Bloch, Brahms, Clarke, Hindemith, Hummel, Marcello, Marais, Milhaud, Shostakovitch, or Vivaldi, or any movement EXCEPT the minuet/bourree of a solo suite by J.S. Bach. Note that the Telemann viola concerto is not acceptable repertoire for the audition. For questions about repertoire, please contact Dr. Tramposh at tramposh@potsdam.edu.
VIOLIN
A movement of a sonata by Handel, Corelli, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms. Concerti by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Bruch, Mendelssohn, Lalo and/or unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas by J.S. Bach. Other concertos and short solo pieces of comparable difficulty also are acceptable.
VOICE
Bachelor of Music in Performance: Candidates must present five (5) memorized pieces from standard classical vocal literature. Repertoire must include pieces in English and two different foreign languages. Candidates should perform age-appropriate pieces of varying styles and/or tempi. Do not include music theater, jazz or 'pop' styles.
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Music Business, Music Studies or Bachelor of Arts in Music: Candidates must present three (3) memorized pieces from standard classical vocal literature. Repertoire must include pieces in English and at least one foreign language. Candidates should perform age-appropriate pieces of varying styles and/or tempi. Do not include music theater, jazz or 'pop' styles.
Voice Applicants: Accompanists are available for both on and off-campus voice auditions only for a $30.00 fee which must be paid when the audition is scheduled. For recommendations about providing music for our accompanists, please click here.