Despite my terrible aural skills, I managed a merit in my grade 8. I know I should preferably have done better and a distinction would be good for music college, but I actually don't care. The relief still hasn't worn off. I got 27, 29 and 26 out of 30 for my 3 pieces - Mozart Horn Concerto 2 mvmt 1, Hunter's Moon by Vinter and Le Basquish by Alison Davies - and 16 for both scales and sightreading.

Phew.

The question now is, should I retake to get a better mark? Or in other words, are a uni/college likely to consider me a weaker candidate for getting just a merit?

Ahh! I have my Grade 8 exam on horn on Thursday. I'm still convinced I can't play the pieces/do all the assorted scaley things/do the aural tests. So I'm a bit sunk.

Anyone know any tips for the Grade 8 aural tests? I'm hopeless at them as my teacher *really* should have started them earlier than 4 lessons before the exam. I haven't done any relevant grades aural-wise before.

*gulp*

I got a message in my inbox asking if I could draw people's attention to a competition that EMI Classics are running. It's for anyone who
1. wants to win a load of CDs and
2. thinks they could do a better job of reviewing an album than "your average classical hack". (It's what the man said...honest!)

If anyone thinks they could have a go, go here

Please also pass this message on to anyone you think might be interested - people with music blogs for instance!

Cheers.

If that link doesn't work, it's www.emiclassics.co.uk/allnews.php#96

...but much more for Beethoven IX than Carmina Burana. Can't wait!

Here are some names to conjure with...

Gustav Mahler, Hans Richter, Arthur Nikisch, Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Leopold Stokowski, Georg Solti, John Barbirolli, Otto Klemperer, George Szell and Leonard Bernstein.

Some of the most famous conductors today are: Claudio Abbado, Marin Alsop, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Colin Davies, Sir Andrew Davis, Valery Gergiev and Bernard Haitink.

info courtesy of:

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conducting

Why couldn't Mozart find his teacher?

Because he was Hayden.

I officially declare this group well and truly open *smashes champagne*

Just for a start, is it JUST ME in the entire universe that likes Rachmaninoff's Second symphony? Or Shostakovich's 5th?

Russian music is really good.