Your bassoon grade 2 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
- Attwood Theme and Variation (from Sonatina No. 3) Sounds Classical for Bassoon, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 362-400)
- Trad. Scottish O Waly, Waly (The Water is Wide) Sounds Classical for Bassoon, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 362-400)
- Boismortier Rigaudon (from Suite, Op. 40). P. 41 from Learn as You Play Bassoon, arr. Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
- Mozart Aria ‘O Isis and Osiris’. P. 40 from Learn as You Play Bassoon, arr. Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
- Russell Denwood Fanfarnetto. No. 11 from 16 Progressive Pieces for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E683)
- Krogmann Santa’s Little Helpers (Op. 15 No. 2). No. 13 from 16 Progressive Pieces for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E683)
- Haydn Minuet (from 12 German Dances, Hob. IX/10). Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM: standard/mini-bassoon)
- Rosseter Song. No. 21 from First Book of Bassoon Solos, arr. Hilling and Bergmann (Faber)
- Trad. Welsh Folk Song 1. No. 22 from First Book of Bassoon Solos, arr. Hilling and Bergmann (Faber)
LIST B
- Keith Bartlett Cairo Carnival or Lullaby: from Just for Fun! for Bassoon (UMP)
- Colin Cowles Afternoon Song or Bassoon Street Blues: No. 9 or No. 12 from 25 Fun Moments for Bassoon (Studio Music)
- Ronald Hanmer Lullaby or Postlude: No. 3 or No. 4 from Bassoon Bagatelles (Emerson E16)
- Hurlstone Vivace: No. 5 from Five Ballads, arr. Denwood (Hilltop Music Publishing)
- Graham Lyons Spring Carol or Vauxhall Gardens. Compositions for Bassoon, Vol. 1 (Useful Music U140: piano part printable from companion CD or available in the separately published Selected Piano Accompaniments, Vol. 1, U240)
- James Rae Sundown: from In the Groove for Bassoon (Reedimensions RD043)
- Sullivan A Policeman’s Lot (from The Pirates of Penzance) Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM: standard/mini-bassoon)
- Vaughan Williams Buonaparty Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM: standard/mini-bassoon)
- Pam Wedgwood Easy Tiger or Hot Chilli: from Really Easy Jazzin’ About for Bassoon (Faber)
LIST C
- J. S. Bach Minuet. P. 25 from Learn as You Play Bassoon, arr. Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes)
- Colin Cowles The Pulsator: from Out of Character (Fentone 14-401)
- Russell Denwood Light Study. No. 28 from 44 Progressive Studies for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E689)
- Dave Gale Little Red Mug or Swinging Janos: from Jazz FX for Bassoon (Brass Wind)
- Popp Study No. 27 (Allegro). 90 Easy Bassoon Studies (Emerson E393)
- James Rae Inter-Galactic March or Slow Coach or Enchanted Waltz: No. 5 or No. 6 or No. 13 from 16 Characteristic Studies (Reedimensions RD036)
- Weissenborn Study in A minor (P. 5 No. 5) or Study in C (P. 5 No. 6): from Bassoon Studies, Op. 8, Vol. 1 (Peters EP 2277a)
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 Bassoon 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 Bassoon 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 1-3 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 1-3 Book (specimen tests).
*Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16