Your grade 7 viola ABRSM exam will be marked out of 150 and you will need a total of 100 marks to Pass, 120 marks for a Merit and 130 marks for a Distinction.  The exam comprises of four main areas:

    Pieces

    In your exam you are required to play three pieces (worth up to 30 marks each), one from each of the three lists, A, B and C below:

    LIST A

    1. J. S. Bach Allemande: from Cello Suite No. 1 in G, BWV 1007. Bach Six Cello Suites, trans. Rowland-Jones (Peters EP 7489) or trans. Forbes (Chester CH01401)
    2. J. S. Bach Allegro ma non tanto: 2nd movt from Viola da Gamba Sonata No. 1 in G, BWV 1027. Bach Three Sonatas for Viola da Gamba (Viola), BWV 1027–1029 (Bärenreiter BA 5186 or Henle HN 684)
    3. Caix d’Hervelois La Chambor (Allemande), trans. Marchet (IMC 446)
    4. Grazioli Andante: 1st movt from Sonata in F, arr. Tertis. A Second Lionel Tertis Album (Weinberger)
    5. Haydn Divertimento (3rd movt), trans. Piatigorsky. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 3 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 18670X)
    6. Telemann Recitativo and Arioso and Vivace: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in E minor for Viola da Gamba, TWV 41:e5. Telemann Two Sonatas for Viola da Gamba or Viola (Essercizii Musici) (Amadeus BP 0640) or Music for Viola 1, arr. Szeredi (Editio Musica Budapest Z.12846)

    LIST B

    1. Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 3 in F, arr. Forbes (observing repeats) (Peters EP 7725: published with Hungarian Dance No. 1)
    2. Coates Ballad, Op. 13. A Second Lionel Tertis Album (Weinberger)
    3. Naumann Molto allegro con fuoco: No. 3 from Drei Fantasie-Stücke, Op. 5 (Amadeus BP 1328)
    4. Schubert Adagio: 2nd movt from Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D. 821, arr. von Wrochem (Bärenreiter BA 5683). Also available as: No. 10 from Solos for the Viola Player, arr. Doktor (G. Schirmer HL50490424)
    5. Sitt Mazurka, Op. 132 No. 2. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 3 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 18670X )
    6. Tchaikovsky Passionate Confession, arr. Bullard. More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)

    LIST C

    1. Bartók An Evening in the Village, arr. Váczi (Editio Musica Budapest Z.5453: published with Slovak Peasant’s Dance)
    2. Patsy Gritton Viva Barcelona!: No. 4 from Four Character Pieces (SJ Music D2006-2)
    3. Hindemith Meditation (Schott ED 3684)
    4. Julian Jacobson The Gothenburg Waltz (Waltz-Impromptu No. 1) (Bardic Edition BDE 114)
    5. Bryan Kelly Allegro giocoso: 3rd movt from Sonatina (Spartan Press SP958)
    6. Vaughan Williams Prelude: No. 1 from Suite for Viola, Group 1 (OUP)

    Scales & Arpeggios

    As part of your exam you are also required to play scales & arpeggios from memory (worth up to 21 marks) - please see the ABRSM Viola Grades 6-8 Scale Book

    Sight-Reading Test

    You will also be required to sight-read some music that you have not seen before (worth up to 21 marks) - to prepare for this part of your exam please see the ABRSM Viola Grades 6-8 Sight-Reading Book which has a selection of specimen sight-reading pieces.

    Aural Tests

    In another part of your exam you will be required to complete a set of aural tests challenging your musicianship (worth up to 18 marks). To help prepare for this please see the ABRSM Aural Training in Practice Grades 6-8 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grade 7 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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