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

    1. Attwood Theme and Variation (from Sonatina No. 3) Sounds Classical for Bassoon, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 362-400)
    2. Trad. Scottish O Waly, Waly (The Water is Wide) Sounds Classical for Bassoon, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 362-400)
    3. Boismortier Rigaudon (from Suite, Op. 40). P. 41 from Learn as You Play Bassoon, arr. Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Mozart Aria ‘O Isis and Osiris’. P. 40 from Learn as You Play Bassoon, arr. Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
    5. Russell Denwood Fanfarnetto. No. 11 from 16 Progressive Pieces for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E683)
    6. Krogmann Santa’s Little Helpers (Op. 15 No. 2). No. 13 from 16 Progressive Pieces for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E683)
    7. Haydn Minuet (from 12 German Dances, Hob. IX/10). Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM: standard/mini-bassoon)
    8. Rosseter Song. No. 21 from First Book of Bassoon Solos, arr. Hilling and Bergmann (Faber)
    9. Trad. Welsh Folk Song 1. No. 22 from First Book of Bassoon Solos, arr. Hilling and Bergmann (Faber)

    LIST B

    1. Keith Bartlett Cairo Carnival or Lullaby: from Just for Fun! for Bassoon (UMP)
    2. Colin Cowles Afternoon Song or Bassoon Street Blues: No. 9 or No. 12 from 25 Fun Moments for Bassoon (Studio Music)
    3. Ronald Hanmer Lullaby or Postlude: No. 3 or No. 4 from Bassoon Bagatelles (Emerson E16)
    4. Hurlstone Vivace: No. 5 from Five Ballads, arr. Denwood (Hilltop Music Publishing)
    5. 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)
    6. James Rae Sundown: from In the Groove for Bassoon (Reedimensions RD043)
    7. Sullivan A Policeman’s Lot (from The Pirates of Penzance) Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM: standard/mini-bassoon)
    8. Vaughan Williams Buonaparty Time Pieces for Bassoon, Vol. 1, arr. Denley (ABRSM: standard/mini-bassoon)
    9. Pam Wedgwood Easy Tiger or Hot Chilli: from Really Easy Jazzin’ About for Bassoon (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. J. S. Bach Minuet. P. 25 from Learn as You Play Bassoon, arr. Wastall (Boosey & Hawkes)
    2. Colin Cowles The Pulsator: from Out of Character (Fentone 14-401)
    3. Russell Denwood Light Study. No. 28 from 44 Progressive Studies for Bassoon, arr. Denwood (Emerson E689)
    4. Dave Gale Little Red Mug or Swinging Janos: from Jazz FX for Bassoon (Brass Wind)
    5. Popp Study No. 27 (Allegro). 90 Easy Bassoon Studies (Emerson E393)
    6. 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)
    7. 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


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