Your grade 6 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 Menuets 1 and 2: 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. Caix d’Hervelois La Marche du Czar. No. 17 from L’Alto classique, Vol. C, arr. Classens (Combre P04438)
    3. Fiocco Allegro, trans. Arnold (Viola World VWP000015)
    4. Mozart Allegro: 1st movt from Divertimento in C, trans. Piatigorsky. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 2 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 18590X)
    5. Telemann Allegro: 2nd movt from Concerto in G, TWV 51:G9 (Bärenreiter BA 5878-90)
    6. Telemann Courante and Double (viola to play in tuttis): 6th movt from Suite in D, arr. Bergmann and Forbes (Schott ED 10196)

    LIST B

    1. Albéniz Tango. No. 12 from L’Alto classique, Vol. C, arr. Classens (Combre P04438)
    2. Brahms Andante: from String Sextet No. 1, Op. 18. More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (ABRSM)
    3. Bridge Serenade. Bridge Four Pieces for Viola (Faber)
    4. Kalliwoda No. 1: from Six Nocturnes, Op. 186 (Peters EP 2104)
    5. Seitz Allegro moderato: 1st movt from Student Concerto in D (transposed to G), Op. 22 (Bärenreiter BA 8986)
    6. Sitt No. 4: from Album Leaves, Op. 39. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 4 (Alfred–Summy-Birchard 18750X) or Sitt Album Leaves, Op. 39 (IMC 1048)

    LIST C

    1. Dancla Fantasia – La Cenerentola, Op. 86 No. 7, trans. Barber. Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 2 (Alfred–SummyBirchard 18590X )
    2. Ehrensperger Ma belle, si tu voulais: from Suite über französische Volkslieder (Amadeus BP 1926)
    3. B. Hummel Presto: 3rd movt from Kleine Suite, Op. 19c (Simrock EE 2954a)
    4. Joplin The Easy Winners (observing double-stops; upper line in bb. 83–84). Joplin Three Ragtimes, arr. Birtel (Schott ED 20459)
    5. Vaughan Williams Carol: No. 2 from Suite for Viola, Group 1 (OUP)
    6. Weill & Brecht Mack the Knife (from The Threepenny Opera), arr. Reiter. More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2, arr. Lamb and Meredith (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 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 6 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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