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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Double Bass Grade 8 from 2024 Syllabus:
Grade 8 Scales
ABRSM Double Bass Scales Grades 6-8
Grade 8 Sight-Reading
ABRSM Double Bass Specimen Sight-Reading, Grades 6-8
Grade 8 Aural
Specimen Aural Tests, Grade 8 (book only)
Specimen Aural Tests, Grade 8 (book and CD)
Aural Training in Practice, Grades 6-8 (book and CD)
Grade 8 Pieces
One piece must be chosen from each of Lists A, B and C:
| List A | Composer | Piece Details | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach | Courante (from Cello Suite No.1 in C, BWV 1007), trans. Sterling – SOLO | J. S. Bach: Solos Suiten für Kontrabass, Suites 1–3 (Peters) |
| 2 | Cimador | Allegro (1st movt from Concerto in G) | Cimador: Concerto in G (Yorke) |
| 3 | De Fesch | Siciliano: Andante and Allemande (1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in D minor), arr. Siebach & Schlenker | De Fesch: Sonata in D minor (Hofmeister) |
| 4 | Dragonetti | Waltz No. 6 (from 12 Waltzes) – SOLO | Dragonetti: 12 Waltzes for Double Bass Solos (Henle) |
| 5 | attrib. H. Eccles | Adagio and Corrente: Allegro con spirito (3rd and 2nd movts from Sonata in G minor), trans. Zimmermann | H. Eccles: Sonata in G minor (IMC) |
| 6 | Handel | Adagio and Allegro (1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in C minor), arr. Zimmerman | Solos for the Double Bass Player (G. Schirmer) |
| 7 | Mozart | Allegro (1st movt from Bassoon Concerto, K.191), trans. Sankey without 8va ad lib.; ending at b. 152 | Mozart: Bassoon Concerto in Bb, K.191 (IMC) |
| 8 | Pichl | Allegro moderato (1st movt from Concerto in C) | Pichl: Concerto in C (Bartholomew) |
| 9 | Telemann | Cantabile and Allegro (1st and 2nd movts from Viola da Gamba Sonata in E minor, TWV 41:e5), trans. Sankey | Telemann: Sonata in E minor (IMC) |
| 10 | Vivaldi | Largo and Allegro (1st and 2nd movts from Sonata No. 3 in A minor, RV 43) – low Cs & Ds may be adapted in cello edns | Vivaldi: Sonata No. 3 in A minor, trans. Zimmermann (IMC) or |
| Vivaldi: Complete Sonatas for Violoncello (Bärenreiter) or | |||
| Vivaldi: Six Sonatas for Violoncello (Schott) | |||
| List B | |||
| 1 | Bellini | Final de La somnambule, arr. Bottesini | Arias for Double Bass and Piano (Yorke) |
| 2 | Bottesini | Rêverie | Bottesini: Rêverie for Double Bass and Piano (Recital Music) |
| Rêverie for Double Bass and Piano (Recital Music) Digital Edition from our Download site | |||
| 3 | Dittersdorf | Adagio (2nd movt from Concerto No. 2) | Dittersdorf: Concertos for Double Bass (Yorke) |
| 4 | Fauré | Sicilienne, Op. 78, arr. Close & Sassmannshaus | Concert Pieces for Double Bass (Bärenreiter) |
| 5 | Boguslaw Furtok | Elegie | Concert Pieces for Double Bass (Bärenreiter) |
| 6 | C. Nielsen | Romanze (No.1 from Fantasy Pieces, Op. 2), trans. Drew | C. Nielsen: Fantasy Pieces, Op. 2 (St. Francis Music Publications) |
| 7 | Rachmaninotf | Vocalise (No.14 from 14 Songs, Op. 34), arr. Zimmerman | Solos for the Double Bass Player (G. Schirmer) |
| 8 | Sullivan | Idyll, arr. Frampton | Sullivan: Idyll (Four Bass Music) |
| 9 | Tartini | Adagio cantabile, Op. 65, trans. Drew | Tartini: Adagio cantabile, Op. 65 (St. Francis Music Publications) |
| 10 | Tuláček | Chant d’amour (No. 3 from Three Pieces for Double Bass and Piano) | Tuláček: Three Pieces for Double Bass and Piano (Recital Music) Digital Edition from our Download site |
| 11 | A. Beach | La Captive, arr. Elliott | A. Beach: La Captive (Bartholomew) |
| 12 | Cervera-Bret | Nocturno | Cervera-Bret: Nocturno for Double Bass and Piano (I Musicanti) |
| 13 | attrib. Paradis | Sicilienne, arr. Bethmann | Paradis: Sicilienne for Double Bass (C. F. Schmidt) |
| List C | |||
| 1 | Christopher Benstead | Finale: Presto (No. 4 from Four Episodes) | Christopher Benstead: Four Episodes (Yorke) |
| 2 | D. Bourgeois | Allegro commodo (No. 8 from Fantasy Pieces for Double Bass) – SOLO | D. Bourgeois: Fantasy Pieces for Double Bass (Brass Wind) |
| 3 | Miloslav Gajdoš | Capriccio No. 5 – SOLO | Miloslav Gajdoš: Selected Works for Bass – Capriccios, Solos, and Reflexes (Presser) |
| 4 | Goutfé | Concertino, Op.10 | Goutfé: Concertino, Op.10 (Billaudot) |
| 5 | Gregora | Polka complete | Gregora: Polka (Recital Music) |
| Gregora: Polka (Recital Music) Digital Edition from our Download site | |||
| 6 | Jacob | Allegro (3rd movt from A Little Concerto) with printed cadenza | Jacob: A Little Concerto (Yorke) |
| 7 | Bryan Kelly | Ariel (from Caliban and Ariel) | Bryan Kelly: Caliban and Ariel (Yorke) |
| 8 | Piazzolla | Kicho starting at Allegro | Piazzolla: Kicho (Tonos) |
| 9 | Semler-Collery | Barcarolle et Chanson Bachique complete | Semler-Collery: Barcarolle et Chanson Bachique (Leduc) |
| 10 | Bertram Turetzky | Blues for Ray – SOLO | Bertram Turetzky: Celebrations, Book 6 (Recital Music) Digital Edition from our Download site |
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ABRSM Double Bass Grade 8 from 2024 additional resources & information
Theory of Music
ABRSM Theory of Music Exam Materials
Additional Theory of Music Resources
ABRSM Double Bass Grade 8 from 2024
Overlap
Bowed Strings candidates worldwide may play their three pieces from the 2020–2023 Bowed Strings Syllabus until 31 December 2024. All pieces must be from the same syllabus – candidates may not present a mixture from old and new syllabuses.
Amendments
The ABRSM will post updates to the syllabus e.g. changes to publication details or other minor corrections or clarifications – at www.abrsm.org/syllabuscorrections.
Revision
The ABRSM has not scheduled the next revision of the Double Bass Syllabus. The ABRSM will post advance notice of planned changes to the Double Bass Syllabus (including syllabus overlap information) at www.abrsm.org/syllabusupdates.
Photocopies & downloads
Candidates should not perform from unauthorised photocopies (or other kinds of copies) or illegal downloads of copyright music in examinations. There are limited circumstances where can copies be used in an examination the UK. The MPA’s Code of Fair Practice gives further guidance. Before making a copy an application should be made to the copyright holder and evidence of permission should be brought to the exam. Candidates and Applicants must act within the law with regard to copyright.