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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Viola Grade 2 from 2024 Syllabus:
Grade 2 Scales
ABRSM Viola Scales Grades 1-5
Grade 2 Sight-Reading
ABRSM Viola Specimen Sight-Reading, Grades 1-5
Grade 2 Aural
Specimen Aural Tests, Grades 1-3 (book only)
Specimen Aural Tests, Grades 1-3 (book and CD)
Aural Training in Practice, Grades 1-3 (book and CD)
Grade 2 Pieces
One piece must be chosen from each of Lists A, B and C.
| List A | Composer | Piece details | Publications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach | Rondeau (from Orchestral Suite in B minor, BWV 1067), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 2 | J. S. Bach | Minuet No. 3, arr. Suzuki & trans. Preucil | Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1 (Alfred) |
| 3 | Besard | Ballet, arr. Brodszky | Early Music for Viola (EMB Zeneműkiadó) |
| 4 | M.-A. Charpentier | Prelude (from Te Deum), arr. K. & D. Blackwell – DUET/PIANO | Viola Time Runners (OUP) |
| Viola Time Runners Piano Accompaniment Book (OUP) | |||
| Viola Time Runners Viola Accompaniment Book (OUP) | |||
| 5 | Kenneth Jones | Bourrée | New Pieces for Viola, Book 1 (ABRSM) |
| 6 | Krogmann | March, arr. C. & K. Sassmannshaus DUET/PIANO | Viola Recital Album, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter) |
| 7 | G. B. Martini | Gavotte, arr. Wilkinson & Hart | First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2 (Faber) |
| 8 | Weber | Waltz, arr. Wilkinson & Hart | First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2 (Faber) |
| 9 | Trad. | Hornpipe, arr. Lawrance | Winners Galore for Viola (Brass Wind) |
| Winners Galore for Viola and Violin – Piano Accompaniment (Brass Wind) | |||
| 10 | Trad. Irish | Red-Haired Boy, arr. Huws Jones viola melody – DUET/PIANO< | The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection with Audio Access | |||
| 11 | Chevalier de Saint-Georges | Rondeau Theme (from Sonata for Flute and Harp), arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Viola Mix 2 (ABRSM) 🕮 |
| 12 | Christoph Sassmannshaus & Melissa Lusk | Tip Toe – DUET/PIANO | Viola Recital Album, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter) |
| List B | |||
| 1 | Felipe Bajo | Habañera, arr. Wilkinson & Hart | First Repertoire for Viola, Book 2 (Faber) |
| 2 | Kathy & David Blackwell | Farewell to Skye DUET/PIANO | Viola Time Sprinters (OUP) |
| Viola Time Sprinters Viola Accompaniment Book (OUP) | |||
| Viola Time Sprinters Piano Accompaniment Book (OUP) | |||
| 3 | A. Clarke | Dark-Haired Marie (No. 2 from Four Love Songs), arr. Otty piano to end at b. 24 | A. Clarke: Four Love Songs (SJ Music) |
| 4 | Katherine & Hugh Colledge | The Misty Isle (No. 7 from Shooting Stars) | Katherine & Hugh Colledge: Shooting Stars for Viola & piano with online audio (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 5 | Elgar | Andantino (No. 4 from Very Easy Melodious Exercises in the First Position, Op. 22) | Elgar: Six Very Easy Pieces in the First Position, Op. 22 (Bosworth) |
| 6 | Edward Jones | Glwysen, arr. Huws Jones viola melody – DUET/PIANO | The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| The Fiddler Playalong Viola Collection with Audio Access | |||
| 7 | Reinecke | Primula veris (No. 2 from Zehn kleine stücke, Op. 213), arr. Kreuzer grace notes optional | Reinecke: Ten Little Pieces for Viola and Piano, Op. 213 (Schott) |
| 8 | Schubert | To Music, D. 547, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 9 | Tchaikovsky | Old French Song (No.16 from Album pour enfants, Op. 39), arr. Salter | Starters for Viola (ABRSM) |
| 10 | Trad. North American | Simple Gifts, arr. Waterfield & Beach | O Shenandoah! for Viola (Faber) |
| 11 | Barbara Arens | The Sorceress (from Viola Collection I) | Barbara Arens: Viola Collection I (Barbara Arens) 🕮 |
| 12 | A. Beach | Pierrot and Pierrette (from Children’s Carnival, Op. 25), arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Viola Mix 2 (ABRSM) 🕮 |
| 13 | Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell | Daydreamer (No.11 from Top Banana) | Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell: Top Banana for Viola (Stainer & Bell) |
| Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell: Top Banana for Viola (Stainer & Bell) With piano accmpt. | |||
| List C | |||
| 1 | Arlen & Harburg | We’re otf to see the wizard (from The Wizard of Oz), arr. Davey, Hussey & Sebba DUET/PIANO | Abracadabra Viola Pupils Book (Third Edition) (Collins Music) |
| Abracadabra Viola Pupil's Book &2 CDs (Third Edition) (Collins Music) | |||
| Abracadabra String Beginners Teacher's Book | |||
| Abracadabra Strings Book 1 – Piano Accompaniment | |||
| 2 | Bartók | Play Song (No. 9 from 44 Duos), trans. Maurice & Bigelow DUET | Bartók: 44 Duets for Two Violas (EMB Zeneműkiadó) |
| 3 | Kathy & David Blackwell | Jacobs Dance – DUET/PIANO | Viola Time Sprinters (OUP) |
| Viola Time Sprinters Viola Accompaniment Book (OUP) | |||
| Viola Time Sprinters Piano Accompaniment Book (OUP) | |||
| 4 | Katherine & Hugh Colledge | Morris Dancers (No. 3 from Shooting Stars) with repeat | Katherine & Hugh Colledge: Shooting Stars for Viola & piano with online audio (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 5 | Thomas Gregory | Smooth Operator | Vamoosh Viola, Book 2 (Vamoosh) |
| 6 | Laubach | Soldier’s March, arr. C. & K. Sassmannshaus – lower note in double stops optional DUET/PIANO | Viola Recital Album, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter) |
| 7 | Philip Sparke | Pony and Trap | Skilful Solos for Viola (Anglo Music) |
| 8 | Stravinsky | Shrove-Tide Fair Themes (from Petrushka), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) |
| 9 | Trad. | Mango Walk, arr. Nelson | Piece by Piece 2 for Viola (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 10 | Trad. American | Old Joe Clark, arr. Waterfield & Beach | O Shenandoah! for Viola (Faber) |
| 11 | Hannah M. Bartel | Rainy Daze (from Kansas Memories Suite), arr. Cooper | Viola Music By Women – A Graded Anthology, Vol. 1 (Sleepy Puppy Press) |
| 12 | Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell | Cool Beans (No.14 from Cool Beans) DUET | Celia Cobb & Naomi Yandell: Cool Beans Viola Duets (Stainer & Bell) |
| 13 | Stéphanie Pons | Espièglerie | I Love My Alto (Leduc) |
| 14 | Trad. Ugandan | Dipidu, arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Viola Mix 2 (ABRSM)* |
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ABRSM Viola Grade 2 from 2024 additional resources & information
Theory of Music
ABRSM Theory of Music Exam Materials
Additional Theory of Music Resources
ABRSM Viola Grade 2 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 Viola Syllabus. The ABRSM will post advance notice of planned changes to the Viola 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.