I have just started preparing for my Grade 7 exam - hopefully to sit it next Summer. I have chosen A3 - the Scarlatti Sonata in F minor and probably C1 MacGregor Lowside Blues but am really stuck for my "b" piece. My teacher would like me to have decided by late next week.... anyone got any suggestions?
Thank you!
Full Version: Grade 7 "b" Piece
Hi cornetsrule,
Scarlatti, MacGregor, ....
and how about one of the alternative choices, B6 Wagners' Lied ohne Worte? It's really quite well written and playable, which is surprising for a composer who wrote almost nothing except opera.
denmark77
Scarlatti, MacGregor, ....
and how about one of the alternative choices, B6 Wagners' Lied ohne Worte? It's really quite well written and playable, which is surprising for a composer who wrote almost nothing except opera.
denmark77
Another alternative, the Copin Mazurka A Minor - B4, is also playable, and not too difficult, but it is quite lively.
If you're not interested in alternatives to 'the book' though, I'd suggest you have a look at the Faure Andante Moderato - A1; it poses quite a few challenges technically, but it's beautiful and very rewarding to play.
denmark77
If you're not interested in alternatives to 'the book' though, I'd suggest you have a look at the Faure Andante Moderato - A1; it poses quite a few challenges technically, but it's beautiful and very rewarding to play.
denmark77
In the book we have (1) the Fuare 'Andante' (2) the Grovlez 'Sarabande' and (3) the Mendelssohn 'Andante'. They are all excellent pieces.
I would choose the Faure were I to be taking the exam again as it is an absolute delight. However you have to be relaxed playing in C# minor and not mind ocasional double sharps. The Grovlez is tricky rhythmically and needs very delicate playing to bring it off, and whereas the Mendelssohn might be technically the easiest of the bunch it too needs musicianship to make it sound convincing.
Out of four pupils through grade 7 this year two chose the Mendelssohn, one chose the Grovlez and the other chose B4, the Chopin 'Mazurka'. I would not choose this latter piece unless you have a thing for Chopin which my Teresa really has, but whatever you choose you will have chosen an excellent piece of music.
Regarding the 'A' list, I too like the Scarlatti though none of my puils did. Most of them went for A1 which is a gift of a piece for grade 7, although Teresa chose A2, the Haydn 'Allegro'. Now that is difficult!
I would choose the Faure were I to be taking the exam again as it is an absolute delight. However you have to be relaxed playing in C# minor and not mind ocasional double sharps. The Grovlez is tricky rhythmically and needs very delicate playing to bring it off, and whereas the Mendelssohn might be technically the easiest of the bunch it too needs musicianship to make it sound convincing.
Out of four pupils through grade 7 this year two chose the Mendelssohn, one chose the Grovlez and the other chose B4, the Chopin 'Mazurka'. I would not choose this latter piece unless you have a thing for Chopin which my Teresa really has, but whatever you choose you will have chosen an excellent piece of music.
Regarding the 'A' list, I too like the Scarlatti though none of my puils did. Most of them went for A1 which is a gift of a piece for grade 7, although Teresa chose A2, the Haydn 'Allegro'. Now that is difficult!
The Faure is very nice but I chose Lied Ohne Worte in the end (B6).
For grade 7 I actually found this the easiest as it is quite repetitive and your hands don't have to move round much. The biggest challenge is the expression so I think this is worth trying!
For grade 7 I actually found this the easiest as it is quite repetitive and your hands don't have to move round much. The biggest challenge is the expression so I think this is worth trying!
Yes, I was thinking that B6 was a possibility Musicbox... I was listening to the CD and quite like this one, but is there anywhere I can see/buy it without buying the whole "More Romantic Pieces Book 5"? I was also thinking the B3 could be a possibilty, but I will be challenging to play it musically 
so I'm still no further forward! 
so I'm still no further forward!
QUOTE(cornetsrule @ Sep 19 2009, 10:26 PM) 
I have just started preparing for my Grade 7 exam - hopefully to sit it next Summer. I have chosen A3 - the Scarlatti Sonata in F minor and probably C1 MacGregor Lowside Blues but am really stuck for my "b" piece. My teacher would like me to have decided by late next week.... anyone got any suggestions?
Thank you!
I will take G7 exam December. I choose A1, B2, and C1.
I'm in the process of choosing my grade 7 pieces. I'm going to try to resist choosing the Scarlatti Sonata for the third grade running
However, I do agree with oldromola that A1 looks an easier piece at first glance compared to the other two A pieces in the book. As for the other lists, I'm leaning towards the Mendelssohn piece for list B and the jazz piece for list C (of course!), although that may be subject to change. Just have to see how they all go...
Car Expert
However, I do agree with oldromola that A1 looks an easier piece at first glance compared to the other two A pieces in the book. As for the other lists, I'm leaning towards the Mendelssohn piece for list B and the jazz piece for list C (of course!), although that may be subject to change. Just have to see how they all go...
Car Expert
QUOTE(denmark77 @ Sep 20 2009, 04:23 AM)
Another alternative, the Copin Mazurka A Minor - B4, is also playable, and not too difficult, but it is quite lively.
If you're not interested in alternatives to 'the book' though, I'd suggest you have a look at the Faure Andante Moderato - A1; it poses quite a few challenges technically, but it's beautiful and very rewarding to play.
denmark77
Dear denmark77,
How about B2? I already learned A1, C1 during my summer holiday. I Just start B2 Last week. I will take exam December this year. How Can I play them better? Please help me get distinction.
I think I have decided, contradictory to what I said earlier, my teacher showed me the Chopin Mazurka at my lesson yesterday and I really like it. I am going to try it this week and decided next, but I think it will nearly definitely be what I play!
Thanks for all the advice! And good luck to everyone else doing Grade 7 too!
Thanks for all the advice! And good luck to everyone else doing Grade 7 too!
Dear All,
Just wondered how your preparations were going?
Son is just choosing his pieces and think he will try Handel (Allegro in D minor), Chopin (Mazurka in A minor) and Turina (Fiesta).
Just wondered how your preparations were going?
Son is just choosing his pieces and think he will try Handel (Allegro in D minor), Chopin (Mazurka in A minor) and Turina (Fiesta).
The Faure, Chopin, and Mendelssohn are all classics that you can play for the rest of your life, and all are beautiful pieces of music. You cannot go wrong with any of them.
The Schubert really needs to be played as part of the whole sonata that it comes from so I'd give that a miss. The Grovlez is a bit obscure. Wagner I avoid on principle - because whatever you think of his music, and despite his friendship with Liszt - he was nastily anti-semitic - even by the standards of the times he lived in.
The Schubert really needs to be played as part of the whole sonata that it comes from so I'd give that a miss. The Grovlez is a bit obscure. Wagner I avoid on principle - because whatever you think of his music, and despite his friendship with Liszt - he was nastily anti-semitic - even by the standards of the times he lived in.
QUOTE(Mad Tom @ Nov 26 2009, 11:45 AM)
The Faure, Chopin, and Mendelssohn are all classics that you can play for the rest of your life, and all are beautiful pieces of music. You cannot go wrong with any of them.
The Schubert really needs to be played as part of the whole sonata that it comes from so I'd give that a miss. The Grovlez is a bit obscure. Wagner I avoid on principle - because whatever you think of his music, and despite his friendship with Liszt - he was nastily anti-semitic - even by the standards of the times he lived in.
The Grade 7ers are spoilt for choice! (wouldn't even consider the Wagner for same principle)
Chopin seems to be the favourite at moment because he has played 3 waltzes and all are mini-masterpieces! He is also learning his first Etude - Opus 25, No.2. marked "presto" hence the Haydn choice.
As it happens I too have a pupil who is thinking about the Schubert, but I am wondering (without the benefit of the music in front of me) if it is on the trickier side for grade 7. Can anybody advise?
We feel inclined to avoid the Wagner simply because it sounds like warmed up Schumann, but if it is straight forward then perhaps we will re-consider.
We feel inclined to avoid the Wagner simply because it sounds like warmed up Schumann, but if it is straight forward then perhaps we will re-consider.
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