A Guide to the ABRSM Syllabus (2023 - 2024)

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Beethoven - Bagatelle in G minor, Op. 119 No. 1

ABRSM Grade 5 – A5

A bagatelle is a short piece, usually light in nature. Beethoven wrote several sets of bagatelles throughout his life, the opus 119 set was completed in 1820. The G minor, op. 119 no. 1 is like a minuet, beginning with a melancholy theme in G minor, followed by a calmer section in E flat major. A short bridge brings us back to the opening theme, this time varied with more activity and an especially athletic left hand part. A Picardy third ends the piece with a smile.

Resources & links This piece is available in print as part of the Piano Exam Pieces 2023 & 2024 Grade 5 publication here. Click here to view open domain editions for this work.