The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) has announced that it has developed the first ever exam repertoire lists for pianists playing with one hand, making exams more accessible for musicians with upper limb differences or impairments.
The new syllabus covers grades 1 to 5, and features 62 pieces including music by Chopin, Italian composer Antonio Sartorio (1630-1680), American composer Harold Arlen (1905-1986) and emerging composers.
The syllabus, which includes seven new commissions, has been developed by ABRSM in order to increase accessibility and repertoire choice. This comes after research revealed a shortage in the existing repertoire of pieces written for one-hand.
Designed to inspire people who play one-handed to be able to progress through a graded exam pathway, the new syllabus was developed in partnership with composers and consultants including Nicholas McCarthy, the first one-handed pianist to graduate from the Royal College of Music.
‘We hope it will open up the world of piano playing for people with a range of upper limb differences and impairments’
Ali Bowen-Davies, ABRSM Head of Assessment and Curriculum, explains: ‘These new repertoire lists for Performance Grades are a landmark in piano assessment, reflecting our belief that music learning and performance should be available to everyone.
‘We hope it will open up the world of piano playing for people with a range of upper limb differences and impairments, as well as highlighting repertoire for any students who have temporarily lost the use of their arm or hand, providing a way for them to continue with their piano studies.’
Classical pianist and syllabus consultant Nicholas McCarthy adds: ‘I’ve loved being the lead consultant on such an exciting project. As a concert pianist who happens to have one hand, it’s very close to my heart.
‘I was particularly interested in creating this syllabus as I don’t want people with limb differences to feel excluded from the piano as an instrument. I also hope it opens up musical opportunities and careers for a wider group of musicians. I know people are going to really enjoy getting to know the pieces in the syllabus and I can’t wait to hear students perform them.’
Pieces featured include a Chopin prelude, Arlen & Harburg’s Wizard of Oz classic ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and Voice of Spring by Venetian composer Sartorio.
The lists were also developed with support from the OHMI Trust and include commissions from participants in ABRSM’s Composer Mentoring Programme, which provides opportunities for composers from under-represented backgrounds with a focus on writing music for education.
One-handed piano repertoire: a brief history
The new syllabus is thought to be the first of its kind ever developed. However, composers have written one-handed piano pieces for decades. The most famous commissioner of one-handed repertoire was Paul Wittgenstein (1887 –1961) after he became a right-arm amputee during WW1.
Famous piano works for one hand include Ravel‘s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, composed for Wittgenstein between 1929 and 1930, and Brahms‘s piano transcription of the Chaconne from Bach‘s Partita in D minor. Scriabin composed his Prelude and Nocturne Op. 9 for one hand, while Prokofiev‘s Piano Concerto No. 4 was another commission for Wittgenstein. Lastly, the Capriccio by Janáček is a rare example of a piece of chamber music featuring a one-hand piano part – plus parts for flute, two trumpets, three trombones and tenor tuba (or euphonium).