I've been playing several of the pieces from the G4 list - partly to see which ones I like and might play in an exam. I've found that some pieces seem a lot easier that others and I wondered if this is me and they are difficult because thats what I need to work on, or do other people think the same.
In particllar A1 Allegretto and A8 Voi Che Sapete are definately easier than C2 ZigZag Rag

As far as bits I like go, My votes are
A2 Evening
A8 Voi Che Sapete
B7 Monkey Nuts
C2 ZigZag Rag (If I can ever master it!)

And the bits I dont like are:
A3 Widmung
C6 Catch It
C7 Invention

What do other people think - also I'd be interested to know if anyone recommeds any of the pieces that are on the list but not in the ABRSM book (e.g. A4 - A9, B4 - B9, C4 - C7)

Is anyone playing anything else around this standard that they really love? I'm playing 'Three Clarinet Pictures' and I do like the 2nd one which is called Still Life.

Evening is nice but it needs some playing! It's one of those pieces where you need a lot more than just the right notes. It's on the grade 5 list for TG.
I started to work on Widmung a month or 2 ago and am picking it up again now but am not sure that I'm very fond of it.
I have Three Clarinet Pictures too. I'm supposed to be making a start on the 3rd one, Street Scene.
Also around that level is Colin Cowles Locomotive Suite (well the 2nd and 3rd Movements are at least, I played them at the Stalybridge Adult Learners Concert).

I recently discovered the Guest Spot books when I needed something to play at a garden party. I like most of the arrangements and the backing tracks are fun to play along with. A lot of the material in them is around the grade 4/5 level.

If Emsoboe were speaking for herself I think she's say that the list A pieces on the Clari G4 seem easier/more playable than the other two lists. She likes one of the list B pieces but unusually for her isn't keen on any of the list C (I think I've got this the right way round ).

I agree that the A list seem to be easier than B or C. My teacher said thats usually the case but it does seem quite marked in G4.

sbhoa - Interesting to hear that Evening is G5 with TG. The fingering seems to be fairly straight forward and I'm just starting to work on expression and getting mt breathing right as I sometimes (but not always) run out of breath on a couple of sections which does spoil it

I had a pupil do Peacherine Rag last March... she really enjoyed it.... The articulation is tricky but it's quite fun.... she got merit type marks for it. She also did a C piece called 'The Turn' or something. It had turns in, but once these were mastered it was pretty easy!!!! I'll have another pupil beginning some of these pieces in about Oct..... She has looked at Siciliano in Time pieces (?) and quite likes that.
Evening is a long play!!! My pupil last term wanted to do that but in the end chose A1 ..... largely due to stamina issues....

Evening, Catch it and the A1 concert study (sorry, book not to hand!)

nick

Yes length is another variable - I scanned the CD into my PC as I don't have a CD player in a room where I can practice & use the accompaniment, On the PC you automatically get the length of each piece and they range from 51 seconds to 2 mins 41 seconds. I know the shorter ones could be more difficult than the longer ones but in an exam I can see the temptation of the shorter pieces.

Nikjones8 - Interesting choice of Catch It! - I have played it just once and wasn't convinced it was for me. Have you done a lot of the James Rae pieces? I've tried A1 Allegretto and quite liked it but I wasn't sure how to put any feeling into it - i.e. make it more musical rather than just notes.

Generally, i'm a big Rae fan - though he has his characteristic habits. I think the allegretto needs to be played with a flourish - go large!

nick

I like Evening, Peacherine Rag and the Turn so far - have also played Voi che Sapete last term with my teacher. Will give the others a go once I get these three moving.

Evening seems to be popular - it would be interesting to hear all our different interpretations - maybe that is what drives someone to become an examiner?

I like Peacherine rag too - I'm getting better at it now but there still a couple of places where I get the notes and/or timing completly wrong.

Talking with one of DS2's teachers - Evening seems simple - but there are quite a few traps in it - once I have his score back I will see what he has put. He's away with the GPs at the mo!

Just wondering how you got on with the 3rd of these, particularly the rising trills at the end?