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Teresa Wong

9/24/13 9:28 AM

Teresa Wong
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DipABRSM: Examples of Viva-Voce


Questions

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Posted on August 29, 2011 by admin

August 29, 2011


I found this page of questions on ABRSM forum in which past candidates of dipABRSM listed the questions they were
asked in their exams viva voce sections. I am re-posting it here as I think it might be useful for those who are preparing
for their exams to read as a reference.

This page contains viva-voce questions that have been asked in diploma examinations. Any
answers given are those written by the candidate and are not intended to represent good (or
bad) answers to the questions: they are simply the answers the candidate gave. All viva-voces

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end with the question Is there anything you would like to add?, it is not necessary to answer
this question (with anything other than no) but if you do want to say something then this is
the time to do so.

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The questions as appearing here have been (lightly) edited for consistency throughout the

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page and to better reperesent the way that examiners are likely to word questions.

DipABRSM Programme:

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Scriabin Prludes Op. 11 Numbers 9 and 16

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Beethoven Sontata in C Minor, Op. 13 Pathetique


Szymanowski Etude in Bb Minor, Op. 4 No. 3
Bach Prelude and Fuge No. 16 in G Minor, WTC Book 1
Debussy General Lavine Eccentric No. 6 from Prludes Book II (own-choice work)

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Questions:

Aural Training
How did you choose your programme?
What were the technical challenges you faced when playing the Scriabin preludes?
Where do the opus 11 preludes fit into Scriabins compositional output?
You say the First Movement of the Pathetique is in Sonata form. What is the structure of
Sonata form?
What influence did Beethovens contemporaries have on this piece? In particular, Dussek
(Dusseks influence mentioned in programme notes)
You mention that it was written in Beethovens early period; what characterises his early
period?
How many piano sonatas did Beethoven write?
You said that in his early period, Szymanowski was influenced by Chopin. In what way can

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Teresa Wong

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Chopins influence be seen in this piece?

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What did Bach mean by Well Tempered when he wrote the Well -Tempered Clavier?
How should one approach playing Bach on a piano?
What are stretti?
What sort of answer does the Fugue have?
I noticed that you played from memory today; what effect does that have on the performance?
What does one have to bear in mind when playing the dynamics in, for example, the Debussy,
compared to the Beethoven?

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DipABRSM Programme:

Piano Practice
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Teaching Vidoes
My Recordings
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Edwin Roxburgh Moonscape

Piano Exams

Bach Prelude and Fugue in F, from WTC II

ABRSM Recordings

Schubert Sonata in A, Op. 120


Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableaux in C minor op. 33 no. 3 (off syllabus work)

Sight Reading

Ginastera Tribute to Aaron Copland (off syllabus work)

Music Technology
Piano Clinic

Questions:

Students' Corner
Students' Recital
Students' Videos

How did you go about putting your programme together?

Students' Recordings

What else did Ginastera write?

The Unashamed Piano Teacher

What other works did Rachmaninoff write?


What works is Schubert most famous for? Did he write any other chamber works?

Random Thoughts

Who else was writing sonatas/piano music at the same time as Schubert? Name a sonata they

Piano Performance

wrote at that time.

To Parents

Talk about the development of the piano from Bachs time to modern day.

What other works/composers feature in Spectrum?

Photos

In what ways is Ginasteras prelude similar to Aaron Coplands music?

Aural Training

Do you feel that the cross-rhythmns and bi-tonality in Ginastera work against each other?

Music Appreciation
Students' Composition

DipABRSM Programme:

Recent Posts
Source
Our Student Gathering on 21st
September

Bach Toccata in D major, BWV 912


Mendelssohn Prelude and Fugue, Op. 35 No. 5
Ravel Sonatine
Prokofiev Visions Fugitives, Op. 22 Nos. 8, 14, 19, 20
Ogdon Prelude No. 9 in E from 25 Preludes (off syllabus work)

Arpeggios
Welcome me back.
Students, your Homework when I am
away
How To Do Better In Your SightReading Tests (Part I)
ITS ALL IN YOUR HEAD.

Questions:

My first trial of (this) Haydn


Regina: Little Playmates
Alexandra and Regina: Duet (Scherzo)

What determined your choice of programme? Does it have a theme?


How does a fortepiano differ from a modern piano?

If Music be the Food of Love


Concert: Violin Performance II

Who else other than Bach and Mendelssohn wrote Preludes and Fugues?
What performing difficulties are there in the Mendelssohn prelude?
Is Mendelssohns fugue like a Bach fugue? Show me in the music the subject, and the

Recent Comments

countersubject.
What other piano music did Mendelssohn write? Did he write a concerto?
What traditional harmonies and forms can you point out in Ravels Sonatine?

admin on Recognize your progress.


Face your problems.

What other piano music did Ravel write?

ray123 on Recognize your progress.

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Teresa Wong

9/24/13 9:28 AM

What other piano music did Prokofiev write?

Face your problems.

Why did you choose the John Ogdon piece to finish with?

pinkzebra on Piano Lessons

Is there anything further you would like to tell us?

leolim on Forum Sign Up


admin on Forum Sign Up

DipABRSM Programme:

Facebook Page
Teresa Wong's Piano Studio

Source
Bach Prelude and Fugue No.5 in D major from Book II of WTC
Beethoven Sonata in C# Minor, Op. 27 No. 2, Moonlight
Brahms Romance in F, No. 5 from Six Piano Pieces, Op. 118
Gerswhin Preludes 2 and 3 from Preludes for Piano
Questions:

How did you choose your program?


Teresa Wong's
Piano Studio

What is stretto? Point it out in the music.


How can a pianist play Bach on the piano?

Like

Explain the melody of the Moonlight sonatas first movement.

700

Where is the chromatically descending bass line of the third movement?


What is sonata form?
Which movement uses sonata form?

Tags

In the Brahms, the melody is doubled in the alto and tenor. How does this affect the way you

ABRSMexams acappella AliciaKeys ATCL

play it?

AuralTraining

How do you play the melody of the Gershwin prelude 2?

Beethoven

Where is the walking bassline in the third prelude?

Brahms
Chopin
ChrisNorton
ChristmasMusic ChristopherNorton

What were Gershwins other 4 preludes?


How did Ravel influence Gershwin?
Why do people like Gershwins more popular music more than his piano music?

ClassicalPeriod

Barber Baroque

beginners Blues
Classic

Clementi

Composers Contemporary Copland CPEBach

dipABRSM

Czerny Debussy

DiplomaExams
DipABRSM Programme:

EasyListening Elena Cobb


EnnioMorricone Ensemble FannyWaterman
FilmMusic Franck FRSM FTCL Gershwin Glinka

Source
Chopin Nocturne No.18 in E Major, Op.62 No.2
Beethoven Sonata in F Minor, Op.2 No.1
Debussy Sarabande from the suite Pour le Piano
Schumann Novelette No.1 in F Major, Op.21
Questions:

Gounod grade5

GradedExams

Haydn Haydn

Jazz JSBach

iPhoneApp Janacek

Kabalevsky Liszt LRSM

LTCL Mahler MarthaMier Mendelssohn


MovieMusic

Mozart

MusicAppreciation MusicHistory MusicTheory


PamelaWedgwood PerformancePractice
PerformancePsychology PianoCompetition

PianoDuets

PianoHistory

PianoImprov Piano Instrument PianoPedagogy

What is the nocturne? (Candidate mentions ABA form)

PianoPerformance
PianoStructure PianoTeaching

What do you mean by ABA form?

PianoTechnique

Is it more a day or a night piece?

Piazzolla PopMusic PositiveThinking

What is rubato?

PracticeMethods

Would you as a performer use rubato in left, right, or both hands?

Rachmaninoff

How different was the piano of Chopin from that of Mozart, and how could that have affected
Chopins composing?
Did Chopin compose anything else that was for piano and orchestra?
What were Beethovens style periods? How many were there?
How big of an influence was Haydn on Beethoven?

Ravel Romantic

RomanticMusic SandyLam Scales and


Arpeggios Scarlatti Schubert Schumann
Scriabin

SightReading Singing

Sonata Sonatina StudentsCompositions


Tango

TrinityExams Wolf

YoshinaoNakada

Did Beethoven compose anything for piano and other instruments?


Have you played any other sonatas by Beethoven?
What was the Sarabande?
What was Impressionism in music?

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Teresa Wong

9/24/13 9:28 AM

Was there Impressionism in art?


Name any other Impressionist artists?
I see you played from music. Why did you choose to do this?
But could there be any advantages in playing from memory?
What was Schumanns disability in his hand that you talk about?
Did Schumann compose anything for piano and orchestra?

Summary of Candidates Answers

Free, improvisatory piece coming from the Romantic period.. ABA form.. written before only
by John Field
Describe basically the difference of parts, how they contrast, possibly modulate to other key,
then come back
A night piece
speeding up and slowing down according to emotions
right hand, left hand keeps constant rhythm
larger range Chopin experiments with all notes.. and better sound quality, allowing for
fleeting scales , etc.
Yes, two piano concerti, but all of his compositions had something to do with the piano
Three style periods Viennese Classical, Heroic, more serene and introverted, talk about
which pieces characterised each period
Significant, was his tutor from 1792
Yes, 5 piano concertos, and 9 piano trios
Not full ones, just separate movements
Stylised old dance, 3-beat meter, Baroque, Debussys tribute to French baroque composers
capturing a certain feeling/atmosphere in a piece
Yes, Claude Monet
Maurice Ravel, Charles Ives
Too much effort to memorize, not very good at it, prefer to have music just in case
Yes, you dont have to spend time glancing at the notes
Made an instrument to strengthen his hand, ended up damaging his nerves
Yes, 1 piano concerto

DipABRSM Programme:

Source
Bach Prelude and Fugue in F# Minor,Well-Tempered Clavier Book I
Beethoven Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op 10 No. 1
Faure Barcarolle No. 6 in Eb, Op. 70

Questions:

Why did you choose the pieces in your programme?


What did you find difficult in playing the Faure?
What do you think about pedalling in the Faure?
Who were Faures contemporaries?
You wrote in your programme notes about chromatic twists, point to where these occur.
A question on keeping the pulse in the slow movement of the Beethoven (which the candidate
knew was not secure)
The slow movements are notoriously hard to play what problems did you have? (Mentioned

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technique, orchestral sounds, and thinking of song/opera followup question asked whether
the composer wrote any songs.)
Who was Beethovens first teacher? (Beethovens first teacher mentioned in programme
notes)
Did Beethoven write any other sonatas in C minor?
Compare the piano Beethoven had to the one in todays exam.
Are there any technical things in the fugue e.g. stretto / inversion? Point them out in the
score.
Did you make any adjustments to the way you played the Bach because you were playing on
the piano?
DipABRSM Programme:

Source
Scarlatti Sonatas K208 and K209
Beethoven Sonata in F Minor, Op.2 No.1
Gershwin Preludes 2 & 3
Questions about the programme:

How did you choose your programme?


How did you try to achieve contrast?
You did not include a Romantic piece? Why? (Candidate expresses enthusiasm about Spanish
Romantic composers)
Name a Spanish Romantic composer.
Scarlattis Sonatas were composed for harpsichord. What difference did it make to your
approach?
Did you go for stylistic authenticity or on the contrary use the breadth of the modern pianos
expression?
How had the piano evolved at that time and what difference does it make to your approach to
the sonata?
How do Beethovens sonatas change over his 28 years of composition?
How was Beethovens use of sonata form in his early sonatas different to say Mozart or
Haydn? How did they influence Beethoven?
What characterizes the first period of Beethovens compositions?
What is unusual about the key of F Minor used in this sonata?
How does this sonata compare, structure-wise with his later works? (e.g. use of scherzo to
replace minuet, decreasing slow movements etc)
How does the minor tonality bring out the piece?
What are the technical challenges in this piece, especially in the Prestissimo?
You say the inspiration for the (Gershwin) Preludes came from Chopin, can you clarify that?
How did you approach the 3rd prelude, especially the last section with large intervals, because
at that point you seemed to be playing from memory?
What are the advantages for a pianist to play from memory?

Questions about the Quick Study:

About the quick study, are there any elements you particularly enjoyed? How did you
approach it?
What key did the QS start in?
What did it modulate to in the second half?
Was the start major or minor?
N.B. Questions about the quick study seem to be very rare: if you are desperate to avoid these
questions simply request to do the viva before the quick study (the syllabus states one can do

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them in any order).

DipABRSM Programme:

Source
Bach Toccata No.2 in E Minor BWV, 914
Beethoven Sonata No.14 in C# Minor, Op. 14 No. 2, Moonlight
Chopin Nocturne in E, Op.62 No.2
Brahms Rhapsody in G minor, Op.79 No. 2
Bartok No. 1 from Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, Microkosmos No. 149
Questions:

You mentioned in your programme notes about the clavichord and the harpsichord being the
prevalent instrument in Bachs time and not the piano. How do these instruments differ from
the piano?
You mentioned in your programme notes about Countess Giudicelli- possibly Beethovens
Immortal Beloved whom Beethoven dedicated the Moonlight. What is the relevance of
stating the possibility of her being his Immortal Beloved in your notes?
And what was the keyboard instrument prevalent in Beethovens time and how did it affect
the music that was composed in his period?
What other non-piano works did Beethoven compose?
Did he also write chamber music?
And what is the trio? What instruments does it consist of?
You mentioned in your programme notes about Bellinis operas having a similiar style to the
Chopins nocturne in E. Can you describe more about Bellinis opera and in what way is it
simliar to the nocturnes?
You mentioned about coloratura in your programme noteswhat does it mean?
What other works did Brahms compose, other than the rhapsody?
You mentioned that Brahms is more of an orchestral composer, can you explain this?
Who were Brahmss contemporaries?
And what kind of music does Liszt write?
What is his music like? Are they easy or difficult to play?
Have you played any of Liszts music?
Why did Bartok write the Mikrokosmos?
Name one contemporary of Barok?

Summary of Candidates Answers

Talked about the make of the instruments and how it affects the sound. For eg, for the
harpsichord, the strings are plucked and as such, no tonal nuances are capable on the piano.
In the clavichord, small metal tangents hit the string when the key is struck and so the sound
is smaller than the pianoforte. etc etc
Obviously, the dedicatee of any work is important and the relationship between the composer
and the dedicatee of the work can help shape how we interpret the piece. Beethoven was said
to have rejected the Countess, when she came back to him for lessons after marrying another
man and going away for several years. There was some bitterness on his part, and this we can
hear in the third movement, which has been said to be composed by Beethoven in a fit of
jealous rage for a lost love. In this context, we would not think of the first movement as a
funeral march as some would like to think it is. Instead, the first movement represents a
certain pining and languishing.
The fortepiano, with a wooden frame and leather hammers, was used etc etc
He wrote nine symphonies, a violin concerto

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9/24/13 9:28 AM

Yesthe most famous of his chamber music has to be the Archduke Trio.
If Im not wrong, it consists of the violin, cello and the piano.
Sopranos *examiners laugh* The term generally applies to sopranos..and I do have a
recording of Bellinis La Somnambula with Joan Sutherland singing the lead roleand I
cannot help but notice the similarities in the style of the phrases, the florid passages etc etc
Chopin Liszt
Mainly piano music
It tends to be a little showy sometimesbut generally difficult technically speaking Liszt was
like the Paganini of the pianoso
Yesthe piano sonata.. *exams are shocked* I emphasized that I played only the easier
chordal passages and they laughed
He wrote them as exercises for his son to whom he taught the pianothen they gradually
increased in numbers and became a complete set of exercises over time
Debussy

DipABRSM Programme:

Source
Bach Toccata No.5 in E minor, BWV 914
Mozart Sonata in D, K.311
Gershwin Preludes 2 and 3
Questions:

What is a Toccata?
Did any other composers write toccatas, if so how do they differ?
What are the differences between the harpsichord and the piano youve played today?
How did this affect the way you played this piece?
Guide me through the adagio section, and explain why you played it the way you did.
What do you think of using pedal to play Mozarts pieces?
Would you use any rubato in Mozarts pieces?
What contribution did Gershwin make to the music industry in his time?
Do you know of any other American Composers?
Whats the difference between the conventional american music and his?
DipABRSM Programme:

Source
Bach Toccata No.5 in E minor, BWV 914
Mozart Sonata in D, K.311
Franz Impromptu in G flat, Op.90 No.3, D899/3
Gershwin Prelude I in B flat, Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
Questions:

Which piece do you like most in your performance?


What is the style of Gershwins music?
What other composition did Gershwin write?
Where did Bach come from?
Where did Bach spend his height of his career?

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Teresa Wong

9/24/13 9:28 AM

Name some other composers who lived in Bachs time.


What is the difference between the instrument Bach used and the piano? How does it affect
your approach?
As there is no dynamics indication in this movement (the second movement), how do you
decide the dynamics?
What is a fugue?
What is the key of this fugue and does it remain in the same key in the whole movement?
What is the difference between Baroque music and classical music?
Tell me about the structure of the sonata.
What other compositions did Mozart write?
Can you think of another of Mozarts compositions that is similar to the theme of the second
movement in this sonata?
Where did Schubert come from?
What was Schubert well-known for?
As a pianist, what did you find the most difficult in preparing the Impormptu?
DipABRSM Programme:

Source
Programme includes:

Mozarts K 445 (adapted from Glucks opera)


A Scarlatti Sonata
Questions:

You might not listen to operas much, so why did you choose this Mozart piece?
Give one example of a Mozart comic opera and a Mozart tragic opera.
What technical and musical difficulties did you encounter in playing these (Mozart)
variations?
Why do Scarlattis sonatas have a K. and Longo?
Why did he write these exercises?
Besides what youve said, do you have any idea to whom did he write them for? (Queen Maria
Babara) Which country was she from?
DipABRSM Programme:

Source
Programme unknown

Questions:

How do you think the recital went?


What did you consider when planning your programme?
Your programme was very stylistic. What other styles have you not included? And why?
You state in your programme notes that Debussy was the most influential composer since
Chopin. Why do you believe this?
What does the word Hausmusik mean? (Programme notes contain a quote including this
word).
You wrote that Schubert composed over 200 songs; is this a good estimate of the volume of
his output? (Schubert wrote in the region of 600 songs).
Map out the structure of the first movement of the Schubert.

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Teresa Wong

9/24/13 9:28 AM

What key has the music modulated to at the start of the development section?
To read more, go to http://www.forumconcert.co.uk/diplomas/
and http://www.abrsm.org/resources/writingProgNotesApr05.pdf

Teresa Wong

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