Hi people.
What pieces did you play or what pieces are you playing for the grade 8 flute exam?
I've just started playing these three pieces
List A: Sonata in E by JS Bach
List B: Sonata for flute by Poulenc
List C: study no.75 by Bohm
I'm not quite sure about the Poulenc piece, the other two arent too bad.
So what pieces would you recommend?
Thanks!

I started off with those exact same pieces! I changed the study to Danse de la Chevre though which is really good. Have you played Aria and Waltz from Suite Antique (can't spell) by John Rutter, I enjoyed playing that one! I haven't played it, but Night Soliloquay (By who I can't remember) on list B sounds interesting.

I expect the syllabus has changed a tad since I did it but im pretty sure i did that old Danse de la Goat, first mvt of Poulenc sonata....and probably a bit o' Bach.

I played

Mozarts concerto no.1 - 3rd movement

No. 7 from Telemans Fantasias

Waltz and Aria from suite antique by John Rutter.



I liked playing the teleman fantasias best. The waltz from suite antique was quite tricky and the mozart was very fast! But was ok. I'd suggest investing in the grade 8 cd and listening to lal the pieces. Then u'l get a good idea of which ones you like and dont like before you commit to pieces.

Good luck for your exam!

thanks guys!

Well, I'm currently working for grade 8 and am doing the Mozart 3rd movement, which I really like for A, and then I haven't decided on my B piece and a Telemann fantasia for C (I played Telemann for grade 6 and really enjoyed it)!

Anyone have any reccommendations for the B piece? Apart from the Rutter? Thanks!

I've played the York Bowen and that's quite nice

I recently accompanied that one and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's real chamber music for the flute and piano. If you will have a good accompanist I think it would be well worth looking at. I accompanied the Eldin Burton at a festival in the spring and didn't enjoy it nearly as much.

I quite like the Poulenc,* I've heard the York Bowen is nice but not actually heard it, and the Martinu (with the little O above the u!) is also supposed to be nice I think. But I don't know a lot of stuff from that list! I'm sure there have been other posts about stuff on that list, but I don't remember which thread(s)

* I think maybe it suffers from being popular though!

My absolute favourite from List B is the first movement of the Mouquet, Pan et les Bergers. I hadn't played this Sonata before this syllabus came out, but it's now one of my all time favourite pieces.

I also like the York Bowen, and am teaching someone who has chosen the Martinu which is challenging but worth the effort.

andante, I had a feeling either you or someone else had mentioned that one before!

I will have to save all the info from these posts for if/when I get to grade 8...

I have been playing some grade 8 flute, but I really don't want to do Poulenc because it is done so often. It seems with flute, clarinet and oboe, you get to a certain standard, out comes Poulenc. I've got Telemann for list C and the 76 studies book. I'll probably get the CD if I was serious about doing it.

Yes, I have ordered the CD but it's still on it's way. I'll definately listen to all the pieces (many times!) before I decide, but it does help to hear what other people like. My teacher reccommended the Bowen and the Martin°u as well, so I'll see. I haven't got a piano accompanist yet (I hired one last time and met her 20min before the exam!). Not v. much time to practise so I'll have to start earlier this time, but it might still be tricky with the Bowen. We'll see. Thanks everyone!!!

When are you planning to take the exam, Charlotte?

I agree. I did the second movement Poulenc sonata for my grade 7 flute exam but I am definitely not going to do the first movement.
gosh I need to go to bed. its 1.50am

You will need a really good pianist for the Martinu.

Oh!

*feels rather worried*

Anyone here live near Berlin who is willing to travel 4 hours on the train to get to the exam centre?? Thought not! *sigh*

I did the 3rd movement of the Mozart I didnt like this much but I generally find Mozart really hard to play (not my style), York Bowen really liked this one such a lovely piece and not overly difficult and for list C I did the 2nd and 3rd movement of the Bach Partita in A minor really lovely piece. The Poulenc is gorgous but is very over played in exams although is good to have in your repetoir. I have the Martinu but havent attempted to play it looks very difficult ach well one day!

The york bowen piece is lovely. I didnt play this for my exam (really annoyed because I loved it, and was easier than suite antique) but it is a lovely piece if you like slow music. After playing the mozart I've decided I dont like fast music any more! lol I need a break!

I really liked the York Bowen...it seemed to be a lot easier than the Poulenc or Rutter, but maybe I didn't play it right!

as much as i love Poulenc's Sonatas, i STRONGLY dont reccomend the first movement of his flute sonata. why oh why was the LAST movement a grade 8 piece?! THAT MOVEMENTS IMPOSSIBLE!!! but whoever says Poulenc is overplayed is actually quite correct, more so than the Oboe Clarinet Violin and Cello Sonatas! particularly the 2nd movement (which is very beautiful to play)

Hindemith should be a great piece to play!

as far as list A is concerned, the Vivaldi Concerto is THE easiest Grade 8 Flute piece ive seen its wonderful!!! <3 and for List C, the Bach Partita is pretty easy for Grade 8 as well!!!

Putting your fingers in the right place may be reasonably easy, but it's long, needs care to make good musical sense of it, and have you thought about the breathing??

Ditto Da Capo! GoneChopin - I'm sorry, but there's no such thing as an easy Grade 8 piece nor should there be. I'd like to hear you play the Vivaldi which is about much much more than notes/fingers. I prefer to play that particular piece on recorder as the flute seems a little "lumpy" for it no matter how well it is performed. And I'm afraid the third movement of the Poulenc is not impossible although it was a tough one when on for 8. You should hear me on that Poulenc after ten pints. Awesome

When I'm preparing a student for grade 8, In list A, I'd either do the Bach in e major, or the Schubert Arpeggione Sonata which is gorgeous.

From list B, there is so much to choose from!!!! The Martinu is great but not for the faint-hearted(!!!) Mouquet 'La Flute de Pan' is sweet. Itry and avoid Poulenc as that's what everybody plays!!! The Rutter is nice but some tricky bits in the Waltz. And the one that most people won't knoe but is the most fabulous piece in the would is the Taktakishvili Sonata. It's great and explores all aspects of the flute. It's just the first movement for the exam, but make sure you learn all of it. The second movement with piano is lush!!!

As for list C.....well they're all just so damned difficult! But the 3rd Tando Etude by Piazzolla is fab.