Your grade 8 violin 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 Adagio: 1st movt from Sonata No. 1 in G minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1001 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    2. Haydn Allegro moderato: 1st movt from Concerto in G, Hob VIIa/4 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    3. Vivaldi Preludio and Corrente: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in C minor, RV 6 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    4. J. S. Bach 1st movt from Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 (violin to play in tuttis) (Henle HN 671 or Bärenreiter BA 5189-90)
    5. Corelli Adagio and Vivace: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in G minor, Op. 5 No. 5 (observing repeats and with Roger’s embellishments on the repeats in Adagio). Corelli Violin Sonatas, Op. 5, Vol. 1 (Wiener Urtext UT 50235)
    6. Geminiani Sonata in D, Op. 5 No. 4 (complete) (observing repeats) (UT Orpheus EX 1). Also available in: Geminiani Six Sonatas, Op. 5, Vol. 2 (UT Orpheus PEG 4)
    7. Mozart Largo–Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata in Bb, K. 454. No. 13 from Mozart Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Vol. 3 (Henle HN 79) or Mozart Complete Works for Piano and Violin, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter BA 5762)

    LIST B

    1. Brahms Allegretto grazioso: 3rd movt from Sonata in A, Op. 100 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    2. Tchaikovsky Scherzo: No. 2 from Three Pieces, Op. 42 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    3. Wieniawski Obertass: No. 1 from Two Mazurkas, Op. 19 Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    4. Beethoven Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata in F (‘Spring’), Op. 24. No. 5 from Beethoven Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Vol. 1 (Henle HN 7)
    5. Bruch No. 13 and No. 14 and No. 15: from Schwedische Tänze, Op. 63, Vol. 2 (Simrock EE 3111)
    6. Elgar Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata, Op. 82 (Novello NOV120026R)
    7. Franck Allegretto poco mosso: 4th movt from Sonata in A (Wiener Urtext UT 50174)

    LIST C

    1. Copland Hoe-Down: from Rodeo Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    2. Helen Grime Romance Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    3. Michael Nyman Full fathom five: from On the Fiddle Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019, Grade 8 (ABRSM)
    4. Janáček Balada: 2nd movt from Sonata. Janáček Works for Violin and Piano (Bärenreiter BA 9508)
    5. Kabalevsky Allegro molto e con brio: 1st movt from Concerto in C, Op. 48 (Peters EP 4618)
    6. Kodály The Kálló Double-Dance, arr. Fejgin (complete) (lower line optional in arco stopped passages in 1st movt) (Editio Musica Budapest Z.3231)
    7. Kreutzer Étude No. 10 in G (Allegro) or Étude No. 35 in Eb (Marcia: Moderato): from 42 Études ou Caprices for Solo Violin (Peters EP 284)

    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 Violin Grade 8 Scales 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 Violin 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 8 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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