Abrsm 2025 & 2026
Grade 4 Piano Exam
Category B 2
Song Name / Song Piece Sunsets In Savannah
Composer Randall Hartsell
Recommended tempo for this piece is 84 bpm, but the use of rubato (looseness of tempo) will work well, rather than playing with a very metronomic approach, as it certainly doesn’t feel like the kind of piece that needs to sound rushed. A good legato touch is essential, along with attention to the detailed dynamic markings that appear throughout the music. The ability to crescendo and diminuendo really well is vital in order to capture the sentimental mood of the music.
One of the most important considerations in learning this piece is how to use the sustain pedal. Luckily there are suggested pedal markings throughout and be careful to observe the word “sim” in bars 3, 17, 25 which indicate that pedalling should continue in a similar manner, despite not always having the pedal markings written in each bar. There are various slowing down moments, such as at bar 8 where there is a poco rit. which of course only means slightly slower. The a tempo of the following bar (bar 9) indicates that you should return to your original tempo. A similar thing occurs later at bars 24 - 26, and in the final three bars of the piece. Also watch out for the temporary change of clef in the left-hand part of those final three bars. I actually made a small mistake in bar 15, as I should have only held the right-hand middle C for two beats, not the whole bar, although this isn’t overly noticeable in the grand scheme of things, but accuracy is always best
Grade 4 Piano Exam
Category B 2
Song Name / Song Piece Sunsets In Savannah
Composer Randall Hartsell
Recommended tempo for this piece is 84 bpm, but the use of rubato (looseness of tempo) will work well, rather than playing with a very metronomic approach, as it certainly doesn’t feel like the kind of piece that needs to sound rushed. A good legato touch is essential, along with attention to the detailed dynamic markings that appear throughout the music. The ability to crescendo and diminuendo really well is vital in order to capture the sentimental mood of the music.
One of the most important considerations in learning this piece is how to use the sustain pedal. Luckily there are suggested pedal markings throughout and be careful to observe the word “sim” in bars 3, 17, 25 which indicate that pedalling should continue in a similar manner, despite not always having the pedal markings written in each bar. There are various slowing down moments, such as at bar 8 where there is a poco rit. which of course only means slightly slower. The a tempo of the following bar (bar 9) indicates that you should return to your original tempo. A similar thing occurs later at bars 24 - 26, and in the final three bars of the piece. Also watch out for the temporary change of clef in the left-hand part of those final three bars. I actually made a small mistake in bar 15, as I should have only held the right-hand middle C for two beats, not the whole bar, although this isn’t overly noticeable in the grand scheme of things, but accuracy is always best
Category
📚
Learning