Adding to the topic "Repertoire Selection Dilemma" by Ling, I am about to start work on my DipABRSM on piano, and I like the idea of so many pieces on the HUGE repertoire list, so I would just like to know what everyone did/is doing for their DipABRSM, and, if applicable, how well received the programme was by the examiner.

Thanks in advance for the help

Myself, personally I'd do.

Something Baroque e.g. a Bach Prelude and Fugue in A flat
Something Classical e.g. Beethoven Sonata in F minor
Something Romantic (Chopin, Liszt etc) e.g. Chopin Nocturne in E
Something late 19th/early 20th century (Poulenc, Debussy etc) e.g. Debussy Sarabande in C# minor
and if possible, something contempory e.g. Sculthorpe Night Pieces

Doubt anyone else would agree but that'd be an ideal situation

IrisH - LoonY

aah, so where the examiner puts in their comments "well balanced programme, pity you made such a pig's ear of it"?

Ok, let's get the ball rolling with an actual programme shall we:
Scarlatti Sonatas K208 and 209
Haydn Sonata in A flat
Chopin Nocturne in D Flat Op 27 No2 (own choice)
Debussy Prelude "la Cathedrale Engloutie"
Peter Sculthorpe "Night Pieces"

They passed me, so I'm assuming it was an acceptable programme and any lack of marks was due to me making a pig's ear of it, as above.
No - they didn't put that in the comments

My own programme was (in order):

Edwin Roxburgh - Moonscape
Bach - Prelude and Fugue in F (book 2)
Schubert - Sonata in A op.120
Rachmaninoff - Etude-Tableaux in C minor op. 33 no. 3 (own choice)
Ginastera - Tribute to Aaron Copland (own choice)

My own choice items totalled 6 minutes, no comments were made about the choice of programme. I received 22/25 for programme notes and viva. I'm sure if the programme was unbalanced they would have mentioned it.
I also experimented with programme order beforehand with many recitals, as this can affect the outcome as well.

Crazy stuff, that's a diploma piece? I've played that before!
*basks in glory*

hehe, I'll probably never do a diploma, I wouldn't even be good enough to without at least 3 yrs of intensive training......

Hmm - not sure whether you're basking in glory or casting aspersions there !

me either......wa just kinda shocked to read that i'd played a piece set for diploma standard before - thought it was only grade 8.
wouldn't be able to do a diploma because i suck at pretty much everything apart from actually playing a piece.
plus it would take me ages to learn the repertoire to a desirable standard.

aye, there's the rub. The pieces might appear lower down the syllabus, but it's the "desireable standard" that does it.
There's no time limit on taking the Dip exam, so you've got "ages" if that's what it needs.

So the general formula is a Baroque, a Classical, a Romantic and a Modern?

I'm currently working on my DipABRSM and I've learnt the Faure Barcarolle Op.26 No. 1. I've also picked the Mozart Sonata in C Major K. 309.

For a while I toyed with the idea of having a 'themed' programme ie. all French composers or something like that.

Diamond - have a re-read of the syllabus - you can't "theme" the programme that way till you get to FRSM level. You don't have to follow that formula, but the requirement at Dip level is to cover a wide range of styles, moods etc, so it's one of the safest ways to ensure you do meet the brief.

All the best with your preparation.

all French composer repertoire for an all English examiner audiance... whee! hehehe!
just kidding!!!

If you think you have too many confidence to play difficult pieces, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt are good choice. Or, Mozart, J.S.Bach, Haydn are also suitable if your piano is not as well as that you think.

careful there chuhangchun, I'll start thinking you're accusing folk of picking easy diploma options

I see where you're coming from - Liszt and Rachmaninoff require a great deal of flair and technical control. But I would wager that there is a lot of Bach's work that provides far more of a challenge in presenting a performance that the audience will be enraptured with...

Thank you, you are welcome.

I think, practice is also very important, choosing a technically difficult piece needs more time to practice and understand the meaning of the piece.

Try your very best to do so. I get pass of dip in 2001.

Hmm, I am going to do the diploma in june/july, and I havent really practised or prepared for it yet! I have school works as well as exams as well as extra-curricular stuff as well as composition (for applying uni) as well as composing for an event in school as well as practising for diploma! I havent even practised my first piece yet (Scarlatti sonatas in C major, I dont know the K numbers yet...). Wel, I guess I just need to practise like a madman huh?

anyways my programme will be like this:

Scarlatti Sonatas in C major (2 of them, I do not kow which ones)
Beethoven Moonlight sonata
Schubert Impromptu in G-flat major (or maybe sth else, dont know)
Debussy La plus et lente (?), a valse
Copland The Cat and the Mouse (dont know the title in french)

So, looks like i need a good luck...