Your grade 7 cello 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 Bourrées 1 and 2: from Suite No. 3 in C, BWV 1009. Bach Six Suites for Violoncello Solo (Bärenreiter BA 320 or Peters EP 238 or Peters (Urtext) EP 9054)
    2. Cervetto Caccia (Vivace) (upper part): 2nd movt from Sonata in F, Op. 2 No. 9. Cervetto Two Sonatas for Cello (Op. 2 Nos 9 & 5) (Bärenreiter BA 6208)
    3. Couperin Siciliène and Air de diable: 2nd and 5th movts from Pièces en concert (arr. Bazelaire: Leduc AL16920). Also available in: Solos for Young Cellists, Vol. 5 (arr. Dunford: Alfred–Summy-Birchard 212X0)
    4. Gounod Ave Maria (Schott ED0 9674)
    5. Veracini Largo (IMC 3176)
    6. Vivaldi Largo and Allegro: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in F, RV 41. Vivaldi Complete Sonatas for Violoncello (Bärenreiter BA 6995)

    LIST B

    1. F. Austin Titania (No. 1 from The Fairy Ring). Principal Cello (ABRSM)
    2. Borodin Serenade in G, arr. Stutschewsky and Thaler (Peters EP 4222)
    3. Fauré Après un rêve, trans. Casals (IMC 540 or Hamelle HA09037). Also available in: The Casals Legacy (Carl Fischer)
    4. Moeran Prelude (Novello NOV120091)
    5. F. Neruda Slavisches Wiegenlied (Slavonic Cradle Song), Op. 11 (mute optional) (Simrock EE 3493)
    6. Popper Gavotte No. 2 in D, Op. 23 (IMC 1607)

    LIST C

    1. Goltermann Etude-Caprice, Op. 54 No. 4 (IMC 3091)
    2. Walter Ernst Haberl Latin for Alex (Universal UE 33349)
    3. Janáček Allegro: 3rd movt from Pohádka (A Tale). Principal Cello (ABRSM)
    4. David Matthews Tango flageoletto. Unbeaten Tracks for Cello (Faber)
    5. Squire Tarantella, Op. 23 (Stainer & Bell 2287). Also available in: The Squire Cello Solo Collection (Carl Fischer)
    6. Trad. Irish Londonderry Air. More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 2, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)

    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 Cello 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 Cello 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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