Your descant (soprano) recorder grade 1 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. Anon. Menuet. No. 10 from Spielbuch for Descant Recorder, arr. Hechler (Moeck 2076)
    2. Phalèse Branle or Gaillarde mon plaisir. No. 29 or No. 45 from Spielbuch for Descant Recorder, arr. Hechler (Moeck 2076)
    3. Daquin Rigaudon. No. 10 from Baroque Recorder Anthology, Vol. 1 (Soprano) (Schott ED 13134)
    4. Handel Menuett. No. 12 from Baroque Recorder Anthology, Vol. 1 (Soprano) (Schott ED 13134)
    5. Handel Gavotte, arr. Bergmann. First Repertoire for Descant Recorder, arr. Adams (Faber)
    6. T. Morley Now is the month of Maying Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    7. Purcell Fairest Isle (from King Arthur) Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    8. Trad. American Amazing Grace Don’t You Just Love These Tunes for Descant Recorder, arr. Haughton (Kevin Mayhew)
    9. Trad. Irish Cockles and Mussels Don’t You Just Love These Tunes for Descant Recorder, arr. Haughton (Kevin Mayhew)

    LIST B

    1. Brian Bonsor Scherzino or Legend. No. 4 or No. 5 from The Really Easy Recorder Book (Faber)
    2. Curtin Theme from ‘The Flintstones’. Don’t You Just Love These Tunes for Descant Recorder, arr. Haughton (Kevin Mayhew)
    3. Terry Gilkyson The Bare Necessities (from The Jungle Book). Winner Scores All for Descant Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Paul Harris Sunny Spells. First Repertoire for Descant Recorder, arr. Adams (Faber)
    5. Alan Haughton One Step at a Time or Calm Seas: from Fun Club for Descant Recorder, Grade 0–1 (Kevin Mayhew: piano accomp. and part published in Teacher Copy)
    6. Ridout Lingering by the Wayside or Stepping Out Along a Road: No. 2 or No. 6 from A Day in the Country for Descant Recorder (ABRSM)
    7. Schumann Soldiers’ March (from Album for the Young, Op. 68). Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    8. Sarah Watts Humdinger Hoedown: from Fresh Air for Descant Recorder (Kevin Mayhew)
    9. Pam Wedgwood Periwinkle Waltz or Dreaming: from Really Easy Jazzin’ About for Descant Recorder (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. Kathryn Bennetts Spring Song. Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    2. van Eyck Silvester inde Morgenstont (Theme only) or Onder de Linde groene (Theme only). No. 3 or No. 9 from van Eyck Der Fluyten Lust-hof: The Beginners’ Collection (XYZ 1042)
    3. Fetzen Moderato in G. No. 4 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
    4. Paul Harris King Richard, his Delight. No. 1 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
    5. Trad. Jamaican Linstead Market. No. 31 from 50 for Fun, arr. Bonsor (Schott ED 12269)
    6. Trad. Welsh Men of Harlech. Winner Scores All for Descant Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind)
    7. Sarah Watts Study in Green: from Fresh Air for Descant Recorder (Kevin Mayhew)

    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 Recorder 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 Recorder 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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