Viola GRADE 8
PREREQUISITE FOR ENTRY: Grade 5 (or above) in Theory of Music, Practical Musicianship or any solo
Jazz subject.
THREE PIECES: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C:
LIST A
1 J. S. Bach Prlude: 1st movt from Cello Suite No. 3 in C, BWV 1009. Bach Six Cello Suites, trans. Rowland-
Jones (Peters EP 7489) or trans. Forbes (Chester CH01401)
2 BeethovenAdagio or Allegretto alla Polacca: 2nd or 5th movt from Notturno for Viola and Piano, Op. 42
(Schott ED 10091)
3 Bonporti Invenzione No. 6 in F minor, Op. 10 No. 6 (complete).Bonporti Two Inventions for Viola, arr. Martos
and Nagy (Kunzelmann GM 1195)
4 Dittersdorf Allegro moderato: 1st movt from Viola Sonata in E b (Hofmeister)
5 FrescobaldiToccata.Music for Viola III, arr. Szeredi (Editio Musica Budapest Z.13397)
6 Mozart Theme with Variations (omitting Vars 3 & 5) from Divertimento in D, K. 334, trans. Szaleski (PWM
6167060)
7 A. Stamitz Rondeau: 3rd movt from Viola Concerto in B b (Schott VAB 29)
LIST B
1 Berlioz Srnade (complete): 3rd movt from Harold en Italie, ed. Macdonald (Brenreiter BA 5457a)
2 Brahms Sonatensatz (Sonata Movement: Scherzo) in C minor, Op. posth., trans. Katims (IMC 440)
3 Bruch Romance for Viola, Op. 85 (Schott VAB 6)
4 Glazunov Elegie for Viola, Op. 44 (Belaieff BEL 200)
5 Hummel Andantino con moto and Allegro non troppo: 2nd and 3rd movts from Fantasie for Viola
(Kunzelmann GM 164)
6 Joachim No. 2: from Hebrew Melodies for Viola, Op. 9 (IMC 3272 or Musica Rara 1828)
7 RollaAndante or Romance and Polacca: 2nd or 4th movt from Viola Sonata No. 2 in E b (Amadeus BP 824)
LIST C
1 Leroy Anderson Fiddle-Faddle, arr. Arnold (Viola World)
2 Bloch Affirmation: 3rd movt from Suite Hbraque (Schirmer GS28608)
3 Derek Bourgeois Caprice for Viola and Piano, Op. 119a (Brass Wind)
4 Rebecca Clarke Morpheus for Viola and Piano (OUP)
5 Paul Coletti From My Heart: from Three Pieces for Viola and Piano (OUP)
6 Aaron Minsky The Flag Waver: from Three American Pieces for Unaccompanied Viola, trans. Dalton (OUP)
7 Vaughan Williams Christmas Dance: No. 3 from Suite for Viola, Group 1 (OUP)
* Published by ABRSM (Scale requirements, Specimen Sight-Reading Tests, Specimen Aural Tests)
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Viola GRADE 8
SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS*: from memory; for further details (incl. examples) see pp. 69
range bowing requirements rhythm pattern
Scales
A, B majors & minors 2 oct. separate bows and slurred even notes or long tonic,
D b (C # ), E b , E majors & minors 3 oct. (7 notes to a bow) at candidates choice
(minors harmonic or melodic,
as directed by the examiner)
Arpeggios
A, B majors & minors 2 oct. separate bows and slurred even notes
(6 notes to a bow)
D b (C # ), E b , E majors & minors 3 oct. separate bows and slurred even notes
(9 notes to a bow)
Dominant sevenths (resolving on tonic)
In the key of D 2 oct. separate bows and slurred even notes
In the keys of F # , A b and A 3 oct. (4 notes to a bow) "
Diminished sevenths
Starting on E b , E and A 2 oct. separate bows and slurred even notes
Starting on C # 3 oct. (4 notes to a bow) "
Chromatic scales
Starting on E b , E and A 2 oct. separate bows and slurred even notes
Starting on C # 3 oct. (12 notes to a bow) "
Double-stop scales (in parallel)
In octaves, in G major and C minor 1 oct. separate bows even notes or long tonic,
(harmonic or melodic, as directed by at candidates choice
the examiner)
In sixths, in A b major 2 oct. separate bows "
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
In thirds, in E b major 2 oct. see p. 8 see p. 8
SIGHT-READING*: a piece of around sixteen to twenty-four bars in length, time and key signatures as
Grade 7, with the addition of 182, B and D b majors. Highest note C (c"'): shifts as required to cover this
range. Acceleration of tempo and simple ornaments may be encountered. See also p. 7.
AURAL TESTS FOR THE GRADE*: see pp. 58 and 63
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