Your grade 4 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.-L. Adam Hongroise. No. 6 from L’Alto classique, Vol. C, arr. Classens (Combre P04438)
    2. Anon. La nouvelle carel. Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Bass and Harris (ABRSM)
    3. Dittersdorf German Dance. No. 7 from Solos for the Viola Player, arr. Doktor (G. Schirmer HL50490424)
    4. Handel Gavotte. Starters for Viola, arr. Salter (ABRSM)
    5. Handel How beautiful are the feet (from Messiah, HWV 56). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    6. Telemann Bourrée (viola to play in tuttis): 5th movt from Suite in D, arr. Bergmann and Forbes (Schott ED 10196)

    LIST B

    1. Haydn Poco adagio (from ‘Emperor’ Quartet). No. 19 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3, arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    2. Kuchynka Canzonetta (Recital Music RM086)
    3. MacDowell To a Wild Rose, Op. 51 No. 1, arr. Birtel (Schott ED0 9908)
    4. Seitz Andante cantabile: 2nd movt from Student Concerto in D (transposed to G), Op. 22 (Bärenreiter BA 8986)
    5. Vaughan Williams Andante tranquillo (‘The Pride of Kildare’): No. 5 from Six Studies in English Folksong. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 4 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 18750X) or Vaughan Williams Six Studies in English Folksong (Stainer & Bell H49: piano accomp. published separately, H47)
    6. Verdi Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)

    LIST C

    1. Mary Cohen Magic Carpet Ride: No. 11 from Superstudies for Solo Viola, Book 2 (Faber)
    2. Timothy Kraemer Happy (from Mood Swings). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    3. Prokofiev March (from Musiques d’enfants, Op. 65). No. 17 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3˛ arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    4. Trad. English Sailor’s Hornpipe (observing repeats). No. 16 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3˛ arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
    5. G. M. Rodríguez La Cumparsita (viola melody). The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)
    6. John Williams Star Wars (Main Theme). Classic Movie Instrumental Solos for Viola, arr. Galliford, Neuburg and Edmondson (Alfred 35128)

    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 1-5 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 1-5 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 4-5 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 4-5 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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