Your bassoon grade 7 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. Devienne Rondeau (Allegro): 3rd movt from Sonata in G minor, Op. 24 No. 5 (Musica Rara MR 2049)
    2. Koželuh Vivace: 3rd movt from Concerto in C (IMC 3186)
    3. Michl Rondo (Allegro): 3rd movt from Concerto in F (Accolade ACC.1138k)
    4. Mozart Rondo: Tempo di Menuetto (bassoon tacet in tuttis): 3rd movt from Concerto in Bb, K. 191 (Bärenreiter BA 4868-90 or Henle HN 801 or Kevin Mayhew)
    5. Mozart Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata in Bb, K. 292 (Bärenreiter BA 6974 or Henle HN 827 or Chester CH55239)
    6. Senaillé Allegro spiritoso: from Introduction and Allegro spiritoso (arr. De Smet: Fentone F104-401 or arr. Parker: Novello NOV936081)
    7. Telemann Vivace: 4th movt from Sonatina in C minor. Telemann 2 Sonatinas for Bassoon (Schott FAG 26)
    8. Telemann Allegro: 2nd movt from Sonata in F minor, TWV 41:f1 (Amadeus BP 0665)
    9. Vivaldi Allegro molto or Allegro: 1st or 3rd movt from Concerto in A minor (RV 497, F.VIII No. 7) (Ricordi)

    LIST B

    1. W. Hess Capriccio: No. 4 from 7 Recital Pieces, Vol. 1 (Hinrichsen H667a)
    2. Hurlstone Vivace: 1st movt from Sonata in F (Emerson E75)
    3. Bryan Kelly Theme, Pastoral, March and Waltz: from Lérici Variations (Novello NOV120565)
    4. Maconchy Moderato: 1st movt from Concertino (Lengnick)
    5. Milde Tarantella, Op. 20 (Musica Rara MR 1092 or IMC 2283)
    6. Nussio Tamburino (observing repeats): No. 3 from Variations on an Arietta by Pergolesi (Universal UE 12182)
    7. Ravel Pièce en forme de habanera, trans. Oubradous (Leduc AL 19979)
    8. Saint-Saëns Allegro moderato: 1st movt from Sonata in G, Op. 168 (Henle HN 966 or Peters EP 9195)
    9. Gilbert Vinter Reverie (Cramer)

    LIST C

    1. Derek Bourgeois Tempo di valse: No. 4 from Fantasy Pieces for Bassoon (Brass Wind)
    2. Jacob Valse and Presto: 2nd and 3rd movts from Partita (OUP archive–Allegro)
    3. Graham Lyons No. 2: from Arthritis III (Useful Music U18)
    4. Milde Allegretto or Molto allegro: No. 4 or No. 21 from Concert Studies, Op. 26, Vol. 1 (IMC 467). Also available in: Milde 50 Concert Studies, Op. 26 (Alfred–Kalmus K02132)
    5. Piard Waltz: No. 16 from 16 Characteristic Studies (IMC 1208)
    6. Ridout Ariel: from Caliban and Ariel (Studio Music)
    7. Weissenborn Study No. 15 or Study No. 17: from Bassoon Studies, Op. 8, Vol. 2 (Peters EP 2277b)

    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 6-8 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 6-8 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grade 7 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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