(
Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Viola Grade 5 from 2024 Syllabus:
Grade 5 Scales
ABRSM Viola Scales Grades 1-5
Grade 5 Sight-Reading
ABRSM Viola Specimen Sight-Reading, Grades 1-5
Grade 5 Aural
Specimen Aural Tests, Grades 4-5 (book only)
Specimen Aural Tests, Grades 4-5 (book and CD)
Aural Training in Practice, Grades 4-5 (book and CD)
Grade 5 Pieces
One piece must be chosen from each of Lists A, B and C.
| List A | Composer | Piece details | Publications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach | Gigue (from Cello Suite No.1 in G, BWV 1007), trans. Rowland-Jones or trans. Forbes SOLO | J. S. Bach: Six Cello Suites (Peters) or |
| J. S. Bach: Six Cello Suites (Chester) | |||
| 2 | J. S. Bach | Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (from Cantata,BWV 147), arr. Birtel – upper line only in bb. 24–32 & bb. 52–60 | Classical Highlights for Viola (Schott) |
| 3 | Corelli | Giga (from Violin Sonata, Op. 5 No. 9), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| 4 | Haydn | Hungarian Rondo (from Piano Trio, Hob. XV:25), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| 5 | Handel | Andante (1st movt from Concerto in Bb), trans. Arnold | Handel: Concerto in Bb (Viola World) |
| 6 | M. Marais | La mariée, arr. Classens | L’Alto classique, Vol. C (Combre) |
| 7 | B. Marcello | Allegro (2nd movt from Sonata in E minor), trans. Marchet | B. Marcello: Sonata in E minor for Viola (Stainer & Bell) |
| 8 | Portnotf | Finale: Allegretto (3rd movt from Concertino, Op.13), trans. Forti | Portnotf: Concertino for Viola, Op.13 (Billaudot) |
| 9 | Telemann | Gigue (7th movt from Suite in D), arr. Bergmann & Forbes viola to play in tuttis | Telemann: Suite in D (Schott) |
| 10 | Vivaldi | Allegro (4th movt from Sonata No.1 in B b, RV 47), arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Solo Time for Viola, Book 2 (OUP) |
| 11 | Chaminade | Gavotte (No. 5 from Album des enfants, Op.123), arr. Spence | Chaminade: Six Pieces from Opus 123 (Piper) |
| List B | |||
| 1 | Bridge | Cradle Song (trans.) | Bridge: Four Pieces for Viola (Faber) |
| 2 | Chopin | Tristesse, arr. Classens | L’Alto classique, Vol. C (Combre) |
| 3 | Rhian Samuel | Harmonium (No. 5 from Time out of Time) | Rhian Samuel: Time out of Time for Viola (Stainer & Bell) |
| 4 | Schumann | Dedication (No.1 from Myrthen, Op. 25), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| 5 | J. Sulzer | Sarabande, Op. 8, arr. Tertis | A Second Lionel Tertis Album (Weinberger) |
| 6 | Trad. Irish | Old Irish Air, arr. Tertis C string optional in bb. 20–29 | A Second Lionel Tertis Album (Weinberger) |
| 7 | Tárrega | Recuerdos de la Alhambra, arr. Birtel | Classical Highlights for Viola (Schott) |
| 8 | Tchaikovsky | Chanson triste (No. 2 from 12 morceaux, Op. 40), arr. Forbes | Chester Music for Viola (Chester) |
| 9 | Trad. Scottish | Afton Water, arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Solo Time for Viola, Book 2 (OUP) |
| 10 | Trad. Scottish | I’ll Bid My Heart Be Still, arr. Clarke | R. Clarke: Shorter Pieces for Viola (OUP) |
| 11 | Andrée | Romance (No.1 from Two Romances), – arr. B. & S. Kalinowsky sul G optional, mute optional | Andrée: Two Romances for Violin (Viola) (Schott) |
| 12 | Branscombe | An Old Love Tale, Op. 21 No.1, arr. Cooper – sul G optional | Viola Music By Women – A Graded Anthology, Vol. 3 (Sleepy Puppy Press) |
| 13 | Trad. Shanxi | Leaving Home, arr. Long SOLO | A Set of Chinese Folk Songs for Solo Viola (OUP) |
| List C | |||
| 1 | Bartók | Slovak Peasant’s Dance, trans. Váczi | Bartók: An Evening in the Village & Slovak Peasant’s Dance (EMB Zeneműkiadó) |
| 2 | R. R. Bennett | Buskin (No. 2 from Six Country Dances), arr. Jacobs | R. R. Bennett: Six Country Dances for Viola (Novello) |
| 3 | Grieg | Puck (No. 3 from Lyric Pieces, Op. 71), arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Solo Time for Viola, Book 2 (OUP) |
| 4 | B. Hummel | Allegro (1st movt from Kleine Suite, Op.19c) | B. Hummel: Kleine Suite for Viola, Op.19c (Simrock) |
| 5 | Joplin | The Entertainer, arr. Birtel | Joplin: Three Ragtimes for Viola (Schott) |
| 6 | Claude-Henry Joubert | Ballade de Théophile | Claude-Henry Joubert: Ballade de Théophile (Editions Robert Martin) |
| 7 | Prokofiev | The Montagues and the Capulets (from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| 8 | Trad. American | Boston Fancy, arr. Doktor | Solos for the Viola Player (G. Schirmer) |
| Solos For The Viola Player – Book/CD (G. Schirmer) | |||
| 9 | Villoldo | El Choclo, arr. Tailor | Villoldo: El Choclo for Viola (Editions Marc Reift) |
| 10 | Weill | September Song (from Knickerbocker Holiday), arr. Bass & Harris | Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
< Back to Viola Exam Music
< Back to ABRSM Strings Exams
< Back to ABRSM Exams
< Back to Exam Essentials
Books marked 🕮 may be unavailable in the U.K. Please contact us using via email for more information.
ABRSM Viola Grade 5 from 2024 additional resources & information
Theory of Music
ABRSM Theory of Music Exam Materials
Additional Theory of Music Resources
ABRSM Viola Grade 5 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.