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
- J.-L. Adam Hongroise. No. 6 from L’Alto classique, Vol. C, arr. Classens (Combre P04438)
- Anon. La nouvelle carel. Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Bass and Harris (ABRSM)
- Dittersdorf German Dance. No. 7 from Solos for the Viola Player, arr. Doktor (G. Schirmer HL50490424)
- Handel Gavotte. Starters for Viola, arr. Salter (ABRSM)
- Handel How beautiful are the feet (from Messiah, HWV 56). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
- Telemann Bourrée (viola to play in tuttis): 5th movt from Suite in D, arr. Bergmann and Forbes (Schott ED 10196)
LIST B
- Haydn Poco adagio (from ‘Emperor’ Quartet). No. 19 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3, arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
- Kuchynka Canzonetta (Recital Music RM086)
- MacDowell To a Wild Rose, Op. 51 No. 1, arr. Birtel (Schott ED0 9908)
- Seitz Andante cantabile: 2nd movt from Student Concerto in D (transposed to G), Op. 22 (Bärenreiter BA 8986)
- 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)
- Verdi Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
LIST C
- Mary Cohen Magic Carpet Ride: No. 11 from Superstudies for Solo Viola, Book 2 (Faber)
- Timothy Kraemer Happy (from Mood Swings). More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
- Prokofiev March (from Musiques d’enfants, Op. 65). No. 17 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3˛ arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
- Trad. English Sailor’s Hornpipe (observing repeats). No. 16 from First Repertoire for Viola, Book 3˛ arr. Wilkinson and Hart (Faber)
- G. M. Rodríguez La Cumparsita (viola melody). The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection, arr. Huws Jones (Boosey & Hawkes)
- 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