Trinity Guildhall Lack Of Grade 8 Chopin/brahms/schubert, im not happy Options

[1993allende]

for my grade 8 i decided to go with the trinity guildhall sylabus (cba with scales in 3rds, 5ths, 6ths and singing!). The only drawback is the fairly horrendous choice of exam pieces. There is an abscence of chopin, brahms, schubert which completely eliminates my strength which is the standard romantic repertoire. Instead it looks like im playing rachmaninov melodie op3 no3, beethoven scherzo and trio (sonata op2 no3). I have little quarrel with these (isnt the rachmaninov nice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) ) but then i am left with the prospect of elgar (very unpianistic), mendellsohn song without words op67 no2 (very impossible). The possibility of mozrt, bach and hyden is ruled out by my lack of finger flexability an joint strength (ive only been playing approx 3.5 years lol). Thus the lack of chopin, brahms etc is not welcome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) and i am stuck with a dilemma. Do i grit my teeth and bluff through abrsm scales, aural etc and get the luxury of some nice chopin, or do i go trinity and bear the elgar or butcher the mendellsohn. Anyone who has seen the trinityguildhall lists will know what i mean so i am open to any other suggestions. Before you ask, no i cant compose well enough to play my own composition (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

[Chopinzee]

I can understand the affinity you have with the slower pieces of Brahms and Chopin-though in many ways their music is worlds apart - and presents very different challenges for the pianist... There's a beautiful slow Brahms piece on the current ABRSM Grade 8, one which the composer himself said should be played as if every note is a ritenuto. You've got to do what you've got to do for the Trinity, like any other exam-. It will do you good to learn an occasional piece you may otherwise not usually be inclined to go for, Mendelsohns Songs Without Words may not be the most profound works in the repertoire, but it does'nt stop them being fabulous. Anything by Rachmaninov would be considered Romantic, even works composed well after the golden age of that era had long passed. Generally, I'm not a great fan of English piano music- but Elgars Sonatina is a rare exception, and his Dream Children are nice pieces too, certainly i would'nt describe them as unpianistic. Good luck with the Exam, whichever ones you go for.