Grade 8. - 2013 - 2014, New syllabus Options

[Juan Carlos]

Hi there. I wnas wondering if anyone has had a chance to look at the new (2013 -2014) Grade 8 syllabus and what they think of the pieces in terms of difficulty, musical beauty and so on?
Thanls all of you

[jm-hamilton]

Out of the book, the ones I like at the moment are:
Group A - Soler Sonata in B
Group B - I like all three of these, but would probably go for the Weber Minuet and Trio, if only because I don't know it at all and it would be something a bit different
Group C - I love the Brahms, and the Debussy and the Halffter. I listened to the Peterson being played on Spotify and was terrified at the speed it was taken.

Of the alternatives the only one I've tried so far is the Ireland The Darkened Valley, and I think it's lovely.

[Norway]

I had a go at sight reading the Boulanger - I'm rather traditional but actually liked that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Treble Clef]

Having listened to most of the grade 8 2013-14 pieces (although not all - some are quite hard to find on Youtube):

A List:

Really liked the Bach prelude+fugue, but think the praeambulum will be much more manageable, being in 2 voices in most parts. Like the Shostakovitch as well, and the Soler sounds good, although probably not the best choice for those weak on trills!

B List:

I love all of them!! The Mozart rondo seems quite easy for grade 8, and the k 533 1st movement is slightly harder but perhaps my favourite. The Beethoven op 10 no 1 is also a favourite, and I like the Clementi as well.

C List:

Chopin sounds lovely (only one i've bothered to listen to from C list so far), but the Brahms is nice as well

[jm-hamilton]

Having listened to most of the grade 8 2013-14 pieces (although not all - some are quite hard to find on Youtube):

I found all 32 of them (those in the book and all the alternatives) on Spotify very easily. Have made myself a playlist of all of them. Trying to work out how to get them onto my ipod.

[fsharpminor]

There is another thread running on this.
I know a good proportion of the new Grade 8 pieces.
In list A, the Bach P & F is easier than the Partita movement, but I like the Shostakovich, which I have played at a Forums event.
Now I have played all the Mozart Sonatas for years and find K533 to have the most difficult first movement.
Both Op10 Sonatas by Beethoven are approachable. Op10 No 1 marginally easier than Op 10 No 2 (the whole of which I played for my ALCM in 1963), but the Mozart rondo would be the easiest to learn here. The Haydn is also OK.
In list C, earlier in the year I got my first Ireland album, and The Darkened Valley took me about an hour to master!. The Debussy is also fairly straightforward.

[Pixie*Porsche]

I am currently learning a number of the Grade 8 pieces (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

List A - I have ditched the Bach P&F and am doing the Shostakovich P&F after hearing f#minor play it at a recent forums event, I decided I simply *had* to get the book despite it being quite expensive!

List B - I'm looking at both the Mozart's yet do not plan to do the sonata for the exam, however I like it very much and have got further with the rondo, it is easier. Also looking at Beethoven Op.10 No.1 and will shortly add the Weber too - busy, busy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

List C - only looking at the Dvorak so far.

As usual I adore all the List B pieces and cannot choose!

[fsharpminor]

I am currently learning a number of the Grade 8 pieces (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

List A - I have ditched the Bach P&F and am doing the Shostakovich P&F after hearing f#minor play it at a recent forums event, I decided I simply *had* to get the book despite it being quite expensive!

List B - I'm looking at both the Mozart's yet do not plan to do the sonata for the exam, however I like it very much and have got further with the rondo, it is easier. Also looking at Beethoven Op.10 No.1 and will shortly add the Weber too - busy, busy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

List C - only looking at the Dvorak so far.

As usual I adore all the List B pieces and cannot choose!

I am so pleased (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) you are having a go at the Shost after you heard me play it !
Dont forget to try the Ireland as well !!

[Pixie*Porsche]

I am currently learning a number of the Grade 8 pieces (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

List A - I have ditched the Bach P&F and am doing the Shostakovich P&F after hearing f#minor play it at a recent forums event, I decided I simply *had* to get the book despite it being quite expensive!

List B - I'm looking at both the Mozart's yet do not plan to do the sonata for the exam, however I like it very much and have got further with the rondo, it is easier. Also looking at Beethoven Op.10 No.1 and will shortly add the Weber too - busy, busy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

List C - only looking at the Dvorak so far.

As usual I adore all the List B pieces and cannot choose!

I am so pleased (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) you are having a go at the Shost after you heard me play it !
Dont forget to try the Ireland as well !!

I'm definitely going to have a go at the Ireland but having spent at least ?50 on piano music this month and bought a Jag, I've got to wait a little bit to get the Ireland, my OH is not exactly pleased .... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Absolutely LOVE the Shost though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Hils]

I'm definitely going to have a go at the Ireland but having spent at least ?50 on piano music this month and bought a Jag, I've got to wait a little bit to get the Ireland, my OH is not exactly pleased .... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Absolutely LOVE the Shost though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You could have got a lot of Shosta for the price of a jag!

[fsharpminor]

But after you've had a go at Book 1 , you will want to get the second part as well.
Several have been in Grade 8 syllabi,,, eg No 1 in C, No 7 in A, and No 11 in B. In Book 2 the ones in F and B flat.
Some are extremely difficult, I can only manage three lines of the G minor fugue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Theywere written for Tatiana Nikolayeva. Giving a recital of the whole cycle in New York, she was into the G#minor, felt ill, walked off the stage and died !

[Juan Carlos]

I'd like some advice on my choice of Grade 8 pieces. I'm a little concerned about a few of the titles I love because of speed, though, as this is my weakest point. Being 55 years old and having played the pieno for 6 years (got Merit in my Grade 7 last June) I wonder if that is related to age ...?

However, returning to the pieces, I've already set my eyes on the 2 Bach pieces (List A) and like both as much. I'm worried about speed, though, and I also like the Soler Sonata very much, which is not frantically fast.

I had difficulty choosing titles from List B, as all seem to be rather fast (and very long!). However, I like the Haydn, the Clementi and the 2 Mozart pieces.

As for List C, I seem to love almost all of them. I love the Brahms piece (it'll probably be my choice), the Chopin Waltz, the Skryabin Po?me, the Habanera, and literally adore the Lyadov Prelude in D flat.
Has anyone got any advice to offer?
Thanks all!

[mel2]

I'd like some advice on my choice of Grade 8 pieces. I'm a little concerned about a few of the titles I love because of speed, though, as this is my weakest point. Being 55 years old and having played the pieno for 6 years (got Merit in my Grade 7 last June) I wonder if that is related to age ...?

However, returning to the pieces, I've already set my eyes on the 2 Bach pieces (List A) and like both as much. I'm worried about speed, though, and I also like the Soler Sonata very much, which is not frantically fast.

I had difficulty choosing titles from List B, as all seem to be rather fast (and very long!). However, I like the Haydn, the Clementi and the 2 Mozart pieces.

As for List C, I seem to love almost all of them. I love the Brahms piece (it'll probably be my choice), the Chopin Waltz, the Skryabin Po?me, the Habanera, and literally adore the Lyadov Prelude in D flat.
Has anyone got any advice to offer?
Thanks all!

I'm only a year behind you and can only say that provided you don't have problems such as arthritis then advancing years should have no bearing on how fast you can play.( Organists seem to live as long as Galapagos turtles and maintain impressive dexterity until they turn to dust on the bench.)

My advice would be to take your time, learn as many of the pieces as you can and don't make up your mind on your programme until you have found which ones best suit your style and strengths. Do moderate amounts of scale and passage work (but don't bore yourself to death with it) to advance your technique. This is the philosophy I am adopting for my second try at LTCL piano.
Good luck.

[Pixie*Porsche]

I'm fairly certain that I'm going to do the Shost for List A. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) List B I still haven't got a clue - like them all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) and List C I've actually really started to enjoy the Peterson however I can't stretch a ninth (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif). So probably not a good idea for the exam?

[Treble Clef]

How hard is the Bach Partita 5 Praeambulum as compared to the rest of the choices on the A list?