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ABRSM Viola Grade 5 Syllabus 2026: Repertoire, Pieces and Scales
The 2026 ABRSM Viola Grade 5 syllabus: repertoire list and scale requirements, with More Time Pieces for Viola Vol. 2 options and practical exam notes.
ABRSM Viola Grade 5 is a threshold grade. The pieces are still compact enough for exam preparation, but the candidate now needs a clearer sense of style, tone, phrase length, and left-hand confidence.
The 2026 guide below follows the official ABRSM Viola Practical Grades syllabus from 2024, which remains the current syllabus for this repertoire.
For the broader exam pathway, read this with ABRSM viola repertoire by grade and ABRSM viola exams in Hong Kong: online or live. For scales, use the companion guide to ABRSM viola scales: how to practise them musically.
Other grades: Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8
Cost-saving recommendation: before buying several separate song books, check whether your chosen pieces are available in More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM). This ABRSM collection is often one of the most cost-effective options at this level because it can cover several useful syllabus choices. I have marked those rows below as cost-effective ABRSM collection picks.
Grade 5 difficulty summary
Grade 5 is a threshold level. Students need clearer phrasing, secure shifting, reliable rhythm, and more independent scale preparation. Piece choice should balance confidence with musical contrast.
Grade 5 is also a useful moment to check that exam work is building musicianship rather than only chasing the next certificate; see what ABRSM exams can and cannot teach.
Most cost-effective Grade 5 picks
These pieces all appear in More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM), so they are especially useful if you want to avoid buying too many separate books for one exam.
| No. | Composer | Piece | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| A3 | Corelli | Giga, from Violin Sonata, Op. 5 No. 9, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| A4 | Haydn | Hungarian Rondo, from Piano Trio, Hob. XV:25, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| B4 | Schumann | Dedication, No. 1 from Myrthen, Op. 25, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
| C7 | Prokofiev | The Montagues and the Capulets, from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
Grade 5 repertoire: List A
| No. | Composer | Piece | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach | Gigue, from Cello Suite No. 1 in G, BWV 1007, trans. Rowland-Jones or Forbes | J. S. Bach: Six Cello Suites (Peters or Chester) |
| 2 | J. S. Bach | Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, from Cantata, BWV 147, arr. Birtel | Classical Highlights for Viola (Schott) |
| 3 | Corelli | Giga, from Violin Sonata, Op. 5 No. 9, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) - cost-effective ABRSM collection pick |
| 4 | Haydn | Hungarian Rondo, from Piano Trio, Hob. XV:25, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) - cost-effective ABRSM collection pick |
| 5 | Handel | Andante, 1st movt from Concerto in B-flat, trans. Arnold | Handel: Concerto in B-flat (Viola World) |
| 6 | M. Marais | La mariée, arr. Classens | L’Alto classique, Vol. C (Combre) |
| 7 | B. Marcello | Allegro, 2nd movt from Sonata in E minor, trans. Marchet | B. Marcello: Sonata in E minor for Viola (Stainer & Bell) |
| 8 | Portnoff | Finale: Allegretto, 3rd movt from Concertino, Op. 13, trans. Forti | Portnoff: Concertino for Viola, Op. 13 (Billaudot) |
| 9 | Telemann | Gigue, 7th movt from Suite in D, arr. Bergmann & Forbes | Telemann: Suite in D (Schott) |
| 10 | Vivaldi | Allegro, 4th movt from Sonata No. 1 in B-flat, RV 47, arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Solo Time for Viola, Book 2 (OUP) |
| 11 | Chaminade | Gavotte, No. 5 from Album des enfants, Op. 123, arr. Spence | Chaminade: Six Pieces from Opus 123 (Piper) |
Grade 5 repertoire: List B
| No. | Composer | Piece | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridge | Cradle Song | Bridge: Four Pieces for Viola (Faber) |
| 2 | Chopin | Tristesse, arr. Classens | L’Alto classique, Vol. C (Combre) |
| 3 | Rhian Samuel | Harmonium, No. 5 from Time out of Time | Rhian Samuel: Time out of Time for Viola (Stainer & Bell) |
| 4 | Schumann | Dedication, No. 1 from Myrthen, Op. 25, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) - cost-effective ABRSM collection pick |
| 5 | J. Sulzer | Sarabande, Op. 8, arr. Tertis | A Second Lionel Tertis Album (Weinberger) |
| 6 | Trad. Irish | Old Irish Air, arr. Tertis | A Second Lionel Tertis Album (Weinberger) |
| 7 | Tárrega | Recuerdos de la Alhambra, arr. Birtel | Classical Highlights for Viola (Schott) |
| 8 | Tchaikovsky | Chanson triste, No. 2 from 12 morceaux, Op. 40, arr. Forbes | Chester Music for Viola (Chester) |
| 9 | Trad. Scottish | Afton Water, arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Solo Time for Viola, Book 2 (OUP) |
| 10 | Trad. Scottish | I’ll Bid My Heart Be Still, arr. Clarke | R. Clarke: Shorter Pieces for Viola (OUP) |
| 11 | Andrée | Romance, No. 1 from Two Romances, arr. B. & S. Kalinowsky | Andrée: Two Romances for Violin (Viola) (Schott) |
| 12 | Branscombe | An Old Love Tale, Op. 21 No. 1, arr. Cooper | Viola Music By Women - A Graded Anthology, Vol. 3 (Sleepy Puppy Press) |
| 13 | Trad. Shanxi | Leaving Home, arr. Long | A Set of Chinese Folk Songs for Solo Viola (OUP) |
Grade 5 repertoire: List C
| No. | Composer | Piece | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bartók | Slovak Peasant’s Dance, trans. Váczi | Bartók: An Evening in the Village & Slovak Peasant’s Dance (EMB Zeneműkiadó) |
| 2 | R. R. Bennett | Buskin, No. 2 from Six Country Dances, arr. Jacobs | R. R. Bennett: Six Country Dances for Viola (Novello) |
| 3 | Grieg | Puck, No. 3 from Lyric Pieces, Op. 71, arr. K. & D. Blackwell | Solo Time for Viola, Book 2 (OUP) |
| 4 | B. Hummel | Allegro, 1st movt from Kleine Suite, Op. 19c | B. Hummel: Kleine Suite for Viola, Op. 19c (Simrock) |
| 5 | Joplin | The Entertainer, arr. Birtel | Joplin: Three Ragtimes for Viola (Schott) |
| 6 | Claude-Henry Joubert | Ballade de Théophile | Claude-Henry Joubert: Ballade de Théophile (Editions Robert Martin) |
| 7 | Prokofiev | The Montagues and the Capulets, from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, arr. Lamb & Meredith | More Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) - cost-effective ABRSM collection pick |
| 8 | Trad. American | Boston Fancy, arr. Doktor | Solos for the Viola Player (G. Schirmer) |
| 9 | Villoldo | El Choclo, arr. Tailor | Villoldo: El Choclo for Viola (Editions Marc Reift) |
| 10 | Weill | September Song, from Knickerbocker Holiday, arr. Bass & Harris | Time Pieces for Viola, Vol. 2 (ABRSM) |
Grade 5 scales and arpeggios
All scales and arpeggios are played from memory.
| Keys | Range | Bowing and rhythm |
|---|---|---|
| Scales | ||
| F, A, and B-flat majors; D, E, F-sharp, and A minors, harmonic or melodic at the candidate's choice | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 2 beats to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes or long tonic at the candidate's choice. |
| C major and C minor, harmonic or melodic at the candidate's choice | 3 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 2 beats to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes or long tonic at the candidate's choice. |
| Arpeggios | ||
| F, A, and B-flat majors; D, E, F-sharp, and A minors | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 3 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| C major and C minor | 3 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 3 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| Dominant sevenths | ||
| In the key of E-flat | 1 octave | Separate bows or slurred, 4 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| In the keys of F and G | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 4 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
| Diminished sevenths | ||
| Starting on open C string | 1 octave | Separate bows, even notes. |
| Starting on open G string | 1 octave | Separate bows, even notes. |
| Chromatic scales | ||
| Starting on C, D, and E-flat | 2 octaves | Separate bows or slurred, 4 notes to a bow, at the examiner's choice. Even notes. |
For the broader level-by-level view, return to the ABRSM viola repertoire by grade guide.
