I wonder if people could help.

I have three versions of this piano minuet but not in any of the three books reccommended in the ABRSM syllabus.

I know (believe ?) that you can use any edition for an exam, not just the ones listed.

I believe (assume ? hope ?) that all the articualtion marks etc are editorial suggestions only and so can be ignored or followed.

Is this right ? (I don't want to buy one of the books just for a piece I've already got).

However, more importantly, the three versions I have are:

1. Very old book
2. Music through Time, Pauline Hall
3. Pianissimo - a French beginners' anthology.

The ancient book's version has lots of ornamentation (mordents and the like). Does anyone know if the versions in the three books the ABRSM list have ornamentation ? (Keyboard Anthology, 3rd series, bk 1, or Baroque keyboard pieces, 1 or English keyboard music 1663-1702).

Secondly, Pauline Hall's has simple crotchets in the bass hand in bars 5-7 and at the last line. Pianissimo's version has a dotted minim or minim with a crotchet rest above it and then the other notes, implying the first note has to be held while the others are played (some other crotchets are tied too).

Equally, there are some tiny differences between them, an added A an octave lower in bar 8, an added F in bar 11, for instance.

Does any of this matter ?

My first choice would be the Pauline Hall, and to play it, note-wise, as written, simple crotchets and twiddles. But I'm a bit worried, not having access to the three books listed.

What do people think ?

I have the Baroque keyboard pieces book (the Minuet is Z 649, right?)

There is quite a bit of ornamentation.

There are held notes in bars 5 - 8, and 17-20 (or 9-12 counted without the repeat).
There is an octave A in bar 8 (no Fs in bar 11 though, as far as I can see).

Hope this helps. I think PH's version is slightly simplified.

Although there is generally no obligation to use the edition suggested in the Syllabus, in the case of this piece by Purcell (or in the case of any piece by a baroque composer) I believe it is wise to follow the Board's suggestion. Many old editions of such music are unreliable in authenticity and ornamental notations given are often inaccurate. Having said that, however, is it not the case that ornaments are optional at Grade 1 level ?

I found the version in the Baroque Keyboard Pieces very 'busy' on the page - squashed into a small space and with lots of ornaments - not at all user-friendly for a grade one pianist. The Music Through Time version is simpler, has no ornaments as far as I can remember. The left hand does not have the held notes of the original version. The best version I found was the Keyboard Anthology one - reasonably easy to read, the one ornament nicely written out - I'd recommend this one if you are going to buy - it is one of the ones listed by the Board so definitely OK.

Yes - I agree. The presentation of some grade one music is really not ideal - for some younger pupils the smaller font size and busy-ness of the page is a real headache.

Many thanks, everybody, for the help.

It sounds as though even the three versions in the books the Board reccommend have different levels of ornamentation.

The Keyboard anthology certainly sounds the nicest (I hate small, 'busy' printing too, especially for beginners - frankly, I can't read it myself either). My French Pianissimo version sounds the most similar (I've ruled out Pauline Hall, based on your comments) so I think I'll use that and add the one trill.

Thanks again.

Once they have bought the book I don't really consider it cheating to scan the piece and enlarge it. I do this quite often for younger children and we go back to the original version a few weeks before the exam when the hard learning part has been done.