Your alto/baritone saxophone grade 5 ABRSM exam will be marked out of 150 and you will need a total of 100 marks to Pass, 120 marks for a Merit and 130 marks for a Distinction. The exam comprises of four main areas:
Pieces
In your exam you are required to play three pieces (worth up to 30 marks each), one from each of the three lists, A, B and C below:
LIST A
- Anon. Spanish Love Song. Concert Repertoire for Alto Saxophone, arr. Harris and Calland (Faber)
- J. S. Bach Sinfonia (from Cantata No. 156) Time Pieces for Eb Saxophone, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
- Bizet Orchestral solo (from L’arlésienne, Suite 1) Time Pieces for Eb Saxophone, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
- Bizet Chanson bohème (from Carmen). The Classic Experience for Alto Saxophone, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
- Glinka Danse. Six pièces russes, Vol. 1, arr. Ivanov (alto saxophone) (Lemoine 26201)
- Grieg Solveig’s Song (from Peer Gynt). Klassische Saxophon-Soli, arr. Both (alto saxophone) (Schott ED 7331)
- Purcell Rondeau (from Abdelazar). Take Another Ten for Saxophone, arr. Rae (Universal UE 21170: Eb/Bb edition)
- Tchaikovsky Waltz (from The Sleeping Beauty). Classic Experience Encores for Alto Saxophone, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
- Jeffery Wilson Arioso: from Saxploration (Brass Wind: Eb edition)
LIST B
- József Balogh Palotás and Friss (observing cadenza) The Light Touch for Alto Saxophone, Book 1 (Stainer & Bell H387)
- Jim Parker Mam’selle à l’anche (observing cadenza) The Light Touch for Alto Saxophone, Book 1 (Stainer & Bell H387)
- Ned Bennett An Urge to Splurge The Jazz Sax Collection for Alto or Baritone Saxophone, arr. Bennett (Faber)
- Gershwin But Not for Me The Jazz Sax Collection for Alto or Baritone Saxophone, arr. Bennett (Faber)
- Joplin New Rag. Concert Repertoire for Alto Saxophone, arr. Harris and Calland (Faber)
- Richard Kershaw Tango till You Drop!: from Latin Nights for Alto Saxophone (Hunt Edition HE90)
- Lutosławski March (from Three Youthful Pieces). Time Pieces for Eb Saxophone, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
- Christopher Norton Turkey in the Straw: No. 1 from The Christopher Norton Concert Collection for Alto Saxophone (Boosey & Hawkes)
- Regner Animato: 3rd movt from Sonatine for alto saxophone (Schott ED 20345)
LIST C
- C. Baermann Study in Eb. No. 38 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 1 (Faber)
- Paul Harris Study in D. No. 40 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 1 (Faber)
- Alan Bullard Saxophone Stomp or Samba Sax: No. 39 or No. 41 from Sixty for Sax (ABRSM)
- Robin Grant Diminishing Returns: from Mambo Merengue for Saxophone (Brass Wind: Eb edition)
- Chris Gumbley Icon See Clearly Now. No. 16 from Double Click!! for Solo Saxophone (Gumbles Publications)
- Mike Mower Small Town Swing or Bucolic Bounce: from The Good-Tempered Saxophone (Itchy Fingers Publications 057)
- James Rae One O’clock Shuffle or Beth’s Bossa: No. 21 or No. 25 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone (Universal UE 21613)
Scales & Arpeggios
As part of your exam you are also required to play scales & arpeggios from memory (worth up to 21 marks) - please see the ABRSM Saxophone Grades 1-8 Scale Book
Sight-Reading Test
You will also be required to sight-read some music that you have not seen before (worth up to 21 marks) - to prepare for this part of your exam please see the ABRSM Saxophone Grades 1-5 Sight-Reading Book which has a selection of specimen sight-reading pieces.
Aural Tests
In another part of your exam you will be required to complete a set of aural tests challenging your musicianship (worth up to 18 marks). To help prepare for this please see the ABRSM Aural Training in Practice Grades 4-5 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 4-5 Book (specimen tests).
*Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16