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HomeExaminationsFlorence Price, Bach, Haydn & a Daydream!

Florence Price, Bach, Haydn & a Daydream!

By Informance, 2023-04-06 Posted in: Examinations, Learning Pieces

Another four videos for works from a selection of grades from the 2023 & 2024 ABRSM piano examination syllabus are now available on the Online Academy. The works featured include Daydream by Kristina Arakelyan, a catchy piece by Florence Price, one of Bach’s most well-known Inventions and an uncharacteristically dark sonata movement by Haydn.

New Videos

Grade 2 – C3: Kristina Arakelyan – Daydream

The composer says of this piece: “It is about getting lost in our thoughts, discovering a beautiful world which lives within us and expressing it through music.” After the introduction, built from broken chords in a spinning pattern, we find the theme in the right hand, imitated a bar later by the left hand. In this excerpt, Graham Fitch introduces the piece and gives some suggestions for the opening theme:

daydream by Kristina Arakelyan

Grade 4 – C3: Florence Price – Ticklin’ Toes

Florence Price’s catchy Ticklin’ Toes is based on African-American dances and its syncopated rhythms and off-beat accompaniment patterns creating a lively, playful mood. In this excerpt, Graham gives tips for practising the left hand:

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Grade 5 – A4: J.S. Bach – Invention No. 8 in F, BWV 779

In a Bach Two-Part Invention both hands are equally important – we might imagine a duet between a violin and cello, or flute and bassoon. The F major Invention is exuberant and joyous in character, the theme rising up in ever larger jumps (broken chord) and floating back down in scale fragments. In this video excerpt, Graham analyses the subject and how its shape might influence choices regarding dynamics:

js bach invention in F major

Grade 7 – A1: Haydn – Allegro moderato (1st mvt from Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI:32)

Haydn’s music is so often sunny and positive in mood, with a humorous streak. The Sonata in B minor is surprisingly dark and dramatic in Sturm und Drang style, with only brief hints of brightness in the second subject material of the exposition. In this excerpt, Graham demystifies the ornaments and gives suggestions for executing them:

haydn sonata in b minor

Click here for links to view the full videos on the Online Academy!

Other Videos

Click here to view the full index of available videos, including links to several from previous and other syllabuses (further information on our project for the previous 2021 & 2022 syllabus is available here).

Videos for over 70 pieces have been recorded already and are currently in the various stages of the editing process. Several further shoots are planned and we will be releasing the videos in frequent installments over the coming months. Please click here to sign-up to our mailing list for updates and notifications on this project and our resources for piano examinations.

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Tags: ABRSMabrsm 2023 & 2024ABRSM Grade 2ABRSM Grade 6bachexaminationsflorence pricegrade 6HaydnHaydn Sonata in B minorintermediateinvention

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