ABRSM Grade 4 Piano Exam Tips for "The Sun Is Setting" by William Alwyn

Hello! Here are our tips to play the ABRSM Grade 4 Piano Exam piece "The Sun Is Setting (by William Alwyn)" well.

Enjoy and feel free to add your own tips! :)

Bars 1 - 8         : Keep LH subdued while maintaining p

Bars 9 - 17       : Take note of the piu espressivo marking. Gradually increase over-all dynamics but keep the LH subdued.  Also, observe the dolcissimo (very sweetly). RH melody must be expressive. Visualise "sunset" and use your inner hearing to imagine how sunset would "sound" like (not easy but worth trying to get your Distinction!) Observe cresc and decresc markings.

Bars 18 - 25     : Back to p but with poco a poco cresc (little by little increase of sound). Always keep the LH subdued while increasing and decreasing dynamics.

Bars 26 - 30     : Release pedal at Bar 26. You may use it sparingly thereafter.

Bar 31 - 32      : Play these 2 bars with different dynamics preferably pp at Bar 32.

Bars 33 - 37     : Bring out the LH melody at Bar 33 and then both hands with more similar dynamics at Bars 34 -35. Make sure you play Bar 37 softer than Bar 36. And also remember to apply rallentando starting as early as the last beat of Bar 35.

Bars 38 - 45      : Tempo should be back at original speed from Bar 38. This time, keep the RH subdued  ( pp ) making sure the LH melody is brought out to life in a "singing manner" (cantabile).

Bars 46 - 59      : The melody is now back on the RH. Apply cresc and decresc throughout. Observe the mf at Bar 55 with a beautiful decresc starting at the last beat of Bar 57. Rallentando may start at Bar 58 for a more beautiful effect.

Bars 60 - 62       : Take your time starting at Bar 60. Make sure all notes sound together. Insert a break before Bar 62 which must be played very, very softly.

Here's a video applying the tips above. Enjoy! :)



The Sun Is Setting by William Alwyn (Pianist: Sharon Jusay)

Get the piece "The Sun Is Setting by William Alwyn" here or below.