I wonder if anyone can help me with a strange problem that has troubled me for a while.

I passed grade 8 violin way back in 1995, and was recently asked what pieces I played. The problem is, I cannot remember exactly what I played in the exam. It's stupid, I know.

Does anyone out there have a violin syllabus for that year (1995) still hanging around by any chance??? If so, I would be grateful to see a list of the pieces, as then I should be able to recognise mine. Not being able to remember is really bugging me now. It's a very long shot I know...

Thanks in advance

Denmark77

Further to my initial topic...

In my grade 8 violin exam in 1995, I can now recall playing the first movement of a a Vivaldi Concerto in D minor, but I have no idea which concerto it was, and the first movement of a Beethoven Sonata in G. But my third piece is a mystery - I don't even recall the composer. It was some kind of study / etude in F minor...

Amnesia is a terrrible thing, it comes with age I'm sure...

Hope that helps in some way.

denmark77

I am sure I have this syllabus at home, but I wont be there until tomorrow evening, as Im away tonight. I guess someone will beat me to it !
The Beethoven I think was the last (tenth ) Sonata, from memory Op 96. Actually its the only one in G I think.

(later - PS just noticed`that the Beethoven is on current Grade 8 Syllabus)

Many thanks fsharpminor, that's very kind of you (one of my favourite keys is fsharp minor, by the way).

"The Beethoven I think was the last (tenth ) Sonata, from memory Op 96. Actually its the only one in G I think.

(later - PS just noticed`that the Beethoven is on current Grade 8 Syllabus)"
[/quote]

Just checked with a friend about the sonatas - yes the current syllabus has a sonata in G, but I think there is another Beethoven in G - op 30 no 3 ?

Yes you are right! There are two in G.
Im not a violinist but have played most of the sonatas with my daughter.
I still rather think it was Op96 in 1995 but I may be mistaken (The Op30 No3 is number 8 of the 10)

What a coincidence, I got the list! I got the grade 1 book from 95/96 and inside there's a list of violin pieces.

For grade 8, the Vivaldi piece = Concerto in D minor, Op8 No7, first movement, Allegro.

Beethoven = Sonata in G, Op 30 No 3, first or 3rd movement, Allegro assai or Allegro Vivace: from Beethoven, Violin Sonatas, Vol 2.

Study piece = Rode 24 Caprices: No 18 in F minor.

Let me know if you want the other pieces and I can type it out.

Oops I stand corrected! It was Op 30 No 3 !

(Op 96 is a weird one anyway not really like the others.)

Many thanks violin111, you have put my mind at ease - so my third piece was one of Rode's Caprices, that's very interesting.

Would you mind giving me the other pieces in the grade 8 list as well, to satisfy my curiosity? I would be very grateful if you could.

Yes, fsharpminor, Beethoven did write some weird pieces, but my exam piece was not one of them thankfully...

The others in the lists are:

Group A
JS Bach - Parita No 3 in E, BMV 1006, 4th and 6th movements
Corelli - Sonata in F, Op 5 No 4, 3rd and 4th movements
David Foulis - Sonata No 4 in C, 1st movement
Nardini - Concerto in D minor, Op8 No 7, first movement

Group B
Franck - Sonata in A, 4th movement
Grieg - Sonata in C minor, Op 45, second movement
Mozart - Sonata in Bb, K570, 3rd movement
R.Strauss - Sonata in Eb, Op 18, second movement

Group C
Lili Boulanger - D'un marin de Printemps
Moszkowski - Guitarre, Op 45 No 2
Vincent Persichetti - Serendate No 4, Op 28, 1st and 2nd movement or 2nd and 3rd movement
Reger - Suite in A minor, Op 130a, first movement
Shostakovich - Fruhlingswalzer, No 6 from Alumstucke

They all sound very hard!

Try the slow movement of that Grieg Sonata -its beautiful. Strangely the slow movement is in E Major, totally contrasting with the outer movements !

Violin 111, you are extremely generous, many thanks for giving me the remainder of the lists. I am indebted to you. And yes, they all seem much harder than my choices, as I remember them!

Many thanks for the suggestion fsharpminor, I will certainly look up the Grieg when I get chance.