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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Viola Grade 6 from 2024 Syllabus:
PREREQUISITE FOR ENTRY: ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a Practical Grades solo Jazz instrument. For alternatives, see www.abrsm.org/prerequisite.
Grade 6 Scales
ABRSM Viola Scales Grades 6-8
Grade 6 Sight-Reading
ABRSM Viola Specimen Sight-Reading, Grades 6-8
Grade 6 Aural
Specimen Aural Tests, Grade 6 (book only)
Specimen Aural Tests, Grade 6 (book and CD)
Aural Training in Practice, Grades 6-8 (book and CD)
Grade 6 Pieces
One piece must be chosen from each of Lists A, B and C:
| List A | Composer | Piece details | Publications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach | Menuet 1 and Menuet 2 (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 | Caix d’Hervelois | La marche du Czar, arr. Classens | L’Alto classique, Vol. C (Combre) |
| 3 | Leclair | Tambourin, arr. Classens | L’Alto classique, Vol. C (Combre) |
| 4 | Handel | Andante larghetto and Allegro (1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in G minor, Op.1 No. 6), trans. Pilkington | Handel: Sonata in G minor, Op.1 No. 6 (Stainer & Bell) |
| 5 | Robin Ireland | Allegro (from Étude No. 2) starting at b. 39 SOLO | Robin Ireland: Concert Etudes for Viola (Clifton Edition) |
| 6 | Kalliwoda | Notturno No. 2 (from Six Nocturnes, Op.186) | Kalliwoda: Six Nocturnes for Viola, Op.186 (Peters) or |
| Concert Pieces for Viola (Bärenreiter) | |||
| 7 | Senaillé | Allegro (2nd movt from Sonata in G minor, Op. 5 No. 9), arr. Morgan | Senaillé: Sonata in G minor, Op. 5 No. 9 (Stainer & Bell) |
| 8 | Telemann | Allegro (2nd movt from Sonata in A minor, TWV 41:a6) | Telemann: Sonata in A minor for Viola (Schott) or |
| Telemann: Two Sonatas for Viola da Gamba or Viola (Amadeus) or | |||
| Two Sonatas for Viola da Gamba or Viola (Essercizii Musici) | |||
| 9 | Telemann | Allegro (2nd movt from Concerto in G, TWV 51:G9) | Telemann: Concerto in G for Viola – Viola & Piano – TWV 51: G9 |
| 10 | Vivaldi | Allegro (1st movt from Concerto in G minor, RV 417), arr. Bársony & Nagy | Vivaldi: Concerto in G minor, RV 417 (EMB Zeneműkiadó) |
| List B | |||
| 1 | Albéniz | Tango (No. 2 from España, Op.165), arr. Classens | L’Alto classique, Vol. C (Combre) |
| 2 | Brahms | Andante (from String Sextet No.1, Op.18), arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| 3 | R. Clarke | Lullaby | P. 2 from R. Clarke: Shorter Pieces for Viola (OUP) |
| 4 | Fauré | Berceuse, Op.16, arr. Sassmannshaus | Concert Pieces for Viola (Bärenreiter) |
| 5 | Viotti | Andante, arr. Ritter | Concert Pieces for Viola (Bärenreiter) |
| 6 | Joachim | No.1 (from Hebräische Melodien, Op. 9) – lower 8ve optional in bb. 58–59 | Joachim: Hebrew Melodies for Viola, Op. 9 (IMC) or |
| Joachim: Hebrew Melodies for Viola, Op. 9 (Breitkopf & Härtel) | |||
| 7 | Mendelssohn | Song without Words, Op. 38 No. 2, arr. Forbes | P.11 from Chester Music for Viola (Chester) |
| 8 | Schubert | Ave Maria, Op. 52 No. 6, arr. Birtel | Classical Highlights for Viola (Schott) |
| 9 | Schumann | No. 4 (from Märchenbilder, Op.113) | Schumann: Märchenbilder for Viola, Op.113 (Peters) or |
| Schumann: Märchenbilder for Viola, Op.113 (Henle) | |||
| 10 | Schweikert | Romanze, trans. La-Deur | Schweikert: Romanze for Cello (Violin/Viola) (Furore Verlag) |
| 11 | C. Schumann | Allegretto (No. 2 from Three Romances, Op. 22), arr. B. & S. Kalinowsky | C. Schumann: Three Romances for Viola, Op. 22 (Robert Lienau) |
| List C | |||
| 1 | A. Beach | Berceuse (No. 2 from Three Pieces, Op. 40), trans. Grant | A. Beach: Three Pieces for Viola, Op. 40 (Spartan Press) |
| 2 | Beethoven | Rondo, WoO 41, arr. Forbes | Beethoven: Rondo for Viola, WoO 41 (Schott) |
| 3 | R. R. Bennett | The Czar of Muscovy (No. 6 from Six Country Dances), arr. Jacobs | R. R. Bennett: Six Country Dances for Viola (Novello) |
| 4 | C. Dancla | Fantasia – La Cenerentola, Op. 86 No. 7, trans. Barber | Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 2 (Alfred) |
| 5 | Patsy Gritton | Presto for Frankie (No. 2 from Character Pieces, Book 3) | Patsy Gritton: Character Pieces, Book 3 (SJ Music) |
| 6 | A. H. Hill | Novelette with repeat | A. H. Hill: Two Pieces for Viola (Stainer & Bell) |
| 7 | B. Hummel | Presto (3rd movt from Kleine Suite, Op.19c) | B. Hummel: Kleine Suite for Viola, Op.19c (Simrock) |
| 8 | Pascal Proust | Avril | Pascal Proust: Avril (De Haske) |
| 9 | Vaughan Williams | Carol (No. 2 from Suite for Viola, Group 1) | Vaughan Williams: Suite for Viola (OUP) |
| 10 | Weill & Brecht | Mack the Knife (from The Threepenny Opera), arr. Reiter | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| 11 | Elaine Fine | Windy Nights (No. 5 from A Violist’s Garden of Verses) | Elaine Fine: A Violist’s Garden of Verses (IMSLP) 🕮 |
| 12 | Joplin | The Easy Winners, arr. Birtel | Joplin: Three Ragtimes for Viola (Schott) |
| 13 | Trott | In a Spanish Garden, arr. Cooper | Viola Music By Women – A Graded Anthology, Vol. 3 (Sleepy Puppy Press) |
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ABRSM Viola Grade 6 from 2024 additional resources & information
Theory of Music
ABRSM Theory of Music Exam Materials
Additional Theory of Music Resources
ABRSM Viola Grade 6 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.