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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Viola Grade 8 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 8 Scales
ABRSM Viola Scales Grades 6-8
Grade 8 Sight-Reading
ABRSM Viola 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 | Publications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach | Prelude (from Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008), trans. Rowland-Jones or trans. Forbes SOLO | J. S. Bach: Six Cello Suites (Peters) |
| . S. Bach: Six Cello Suites (Peters) or | |||
| . S. Bach: Six Cello Suites (Chester) | |||
| 2 | J. S. Bach | Vivace (1st movt from Sonata No. 3 in G minor, BWV 1029) | J. S. Bach: Three Sonatas for Viola da Gamba (Viola), BWV 1027–1029 (Bärenreiter) or |
| J. S. Bach: Three Sonatas for Viola da Gamba (Viola), BWV 1027–1029 ( Henle) | |||
| 3 | Grazioli | 2nd and 3rd movts (from Sonata in F), arr. Marchet or arr. Tertis | Grazioli: Sonata in F (Stainer & Bell) or |
| A Second Lionel Tertis Album (Weinberger) | |||
| 4 | Handel | Allegro (3rd movt from Concerto in B b), trans. Arnold | Handel: Concerto in Bb (Viola World) |
| 5 | Hoffmeister | Rondo (3rd movt from Concerto in D) | Hoffmeister: Concerto in D (Peters) or |
| Hoffmeister: Concerto in D (Henle) | |||
| 6 | Schubert | Sonata Movement, D. 471, arr. Forbes | Schubert: Sonata Movement for Viola (Stainer & Bell) |
| 7 | A. Stamitz | Rondeau (3rd movt from Concerto in B b) | A. Stamitz: Concerto in Bb (Schott) |
| 8 | Telemann | Adagio (Dolce) and Allegro (1st and 2nd movts from Fantasia No. 7 in A b, TWV 40:20) SOLO | Telemann: 12 Fantasias For Unaccompanied Viola (Viola World) or |
| Telemann: 12 Fantaisies, TWV 40:14–40:25 (Billaudot) | |||
| 9 | Telemann | Lento and Allegro (1st and 2nd movts from Cello Sonata in D, TWV 41:D6), trans. Vieland | |
| Telemann: Sonata in D, TWV 41:D6 (IMC) | |||
| 10 | Zelter | Allegro con fuoco (1st movt from Concerto in E b) | Zelter: Concerto in Eb (Kunzelmann) |
| 11 | Naji Hakim | Toccata No. 2 SOLO | Naji Hakim: Toccata No. 2 for Viola (UMP) |
| 12 | U. Kay | Allegro (2nd movt from Sonata for Viola) | U. Kay: Sonata for Viola (American Composers Alliance) 🕮 |
| List B | |||
| 1 | Berlioz | Sérénade (3rd movt from Harold en Italie), arr. Macdonald | Berlioz: Harold en Italie (Bärenreiter) |
| 2 | Bloch | Meditation (from Meditation and Processional) | Bloch: Meditation and Processional (G. Schirmer) |
| 3 | Brahms | Andante un poco adagio (2nd movt from Sonata in F minor, Op.120 No.1) | Brahms: Two Sonatas, Op.120 (Peters) or |
| Brahms: Two Sonatas, Op.120 (Henle) | |||
| 4 | Fauré | Elégie, Op. 24, trans. Katmis or arr. Szeredi- Saupe | Fauré: Elegy for Viola, Op. 24 (IMC) or |
| Music for Viola III (EMB Zeneműkiadó) | |||
| 5 | Glazunov | Elégie, Op. 44 | Glazunov: Élégie, Op. 44 (Belaietf) or |
| Glazunov: Élégie, Op. 44 (Henle) | |||
| 6 | Joachim | No. 3 (from Hebräische Melodien, Op. 9) | Joachim: Hebrew Melodies for Viola, Op. 9 (IMC) or |
| Joachim: Hebrew Melodies for Viola, Op. 9 (Breitkopf & Härtel) | |||
| 7 | Kapustin | Largo (2nd movt from Sonata, Op. 69) | Kapustin: Sonata for Viola, Op. 69 (Schott) |
| 8 | Mendelssohn | Adagio: Allegro (1st movt from Sonata in C minor) | Mendelssohn: Sonata in C minor (IMC) or |
| Mendelssohn: Sonata in C minor (Henle) | |||
| 9 | Tchaikovsky | Melodia (No. 3 from Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op. 42), arr. Ducrocq | Tchaikovsky: Melodia for Viola (Billaudot) |
| 10 | Villa-Lobos | Aria (Cantilena) (from Bachianas brasileiras No. 5), arr. Primrose | Villa-Lobos: Bachianas brasileiras No. 5 for Viola (AMP) |
| 11 | C. Schumann | Andante molto (No.1 from Three Romances, Op. 22), arr. B. & S. Kalinowsky | C. Schumann: Three Romances for Viola, Op. 22 (Robert Lienau) |
| List C | |||
| 1 | L. Anderson | Fiddle-Faddle, arr. Arnold | L. Anderson: Fiddle-Faddle (Viola World) |
| 2 | A. Beach | Mazurka (No. 3 from Three Pieces, Op. 40), trans. Grant | A. Beach: Three Pieces for Viola, Op. 40 (Spartan Press) |
| 3 | N. Boulanger | Pièce no. 3 en C+ mineur (from Trois pièces) (trans.) | N. Boulanger: Three Pieces for Viola (Leduc) |
| 4 | Britten | Reflection | Britten: Reflection (Faber) |
| 5 | R. Clarke | Morpheus | R. Clarke: Morpheus (OUP) |
| 6 | Husa | Marciale (3rd movt from Suite, Op. 5) | Husa: Suite for Viola, Op. 5 (AMP) |
| 7 | Robin Ireland | Metre Change Study 1 (from Étude No. 9) SOLO | Robin Ireland: Concert Etudes for Viola (Clifton Edition) |
| 8 | Reger | Molto vivace (4th movt from Suite No.1 in G minor, Op.131d) SOLO | Reger: Three Suites for Solo Viola, Op. 131d (Peters) |
| 9 | Rimsky-Korsakov | The Bumble-Bee, arr. Szeredi-Saupe | Music for Viola III (EMB Zeneműkiadó) |
| 10 | Vaughan-Williams | Christmas Dance (No. 3 from Suite for Viola, Group 1) | Vaughan Williams: Suite for Viola (OUP) |
| 11 | Le Beau | Polonaise (No. 3 from Drei Stücke, Op. 26) | Le Beau: Drei Stücke, Op. 26 (Furore Verlag) |
| 12 | Rainier | Allegro Ricercare (1st movt from Sonata for Viola) | Rainier: Sonata for Viola (Schott) |
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ABRSM Viola Grade 8 from 2024 additional resources & information
Theory of Music
ABRSM Theory of Music Exam Materials
Additional Theory of Music Resources
ABRSM Viola 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 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.