Your descant (soprano) recorder 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. Anon. English Corranto. No. 35 from Spielbuch for Descant Recorder, arr. Hechler (Moeck 2076)
    2. Handel Gavotte. No. 39 from Spielbuch for Descant Recorder, arr. Hechler (Moeck 2076)
    3. Holborne The Night Watch or The Honie-suckle. No. 5 from First Repertoire Pieces for Recorder (Descant), arr. Rosenberg (Boosey & Hawkes)
    4. North North’s Maggot. No. 26 from Baroque Recorder Anthology, Vol. 1 (Soprano) (Schott ED 13134)
    5. Playford The British Toper. No. 9 from Baroque Recorder Anthology, Vol. 1 (Soprano) (Schott ED 13134)
    6. M. Praetorius Volte (from Terpsichore), arr. Bullard Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    7. Trad. Provençal Marcho di Rei, arr. Bullard Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    8. Susato Parade des bouffons. No. 18 from The Renaissance Recorder (Descant), arr. Rosenberg (Boosey & Hawkes)
    9. Telemann Andante (from Partita No. 1) or Pastourelle, arr. Bergmann. First Repertoire for Descant Recorder, arr. Adams (Faber)

    LIST B

    1. Arlen & Harburg Over the Rainbow All Jazzed Up for Descant Recorder, arr. Parker (Brass Wind)
    2. Jim Parker Freeway All Jazzed Up for Descant Recorder, arr. Parker (Brass Wind)
    3. Burt Bacharach Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head Winner Scores All for Descant Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Schubert Briar-Rose (Heidenröslein) Winner Scores All for Descant Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    5. Brian Bonsor Caribbean or The Merry-Go-Round. No. 7 or No. 8 from The Really Easy Recorder Book (Faber)
    6. Humperdinck Evening Prayer (from Hansel and Gretel), arr. Bullard. Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    7. Ridout Up and Down Hill: No. 3 from A Day in the Country for Descant Recorder (ABRSM)
    8. Geoffry Russell-Smith That Magic Touch: from Easy Blue Recorder (Descant) (Universal UE 21354)
    9. Pam Wedgwood Cat Walk: from Easy Jazzin’ About for Descant Recorder (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. Sally Adams Allegro vivo. No. 17 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
    2. Kathryn Bennetts Pip’s Pedal. Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    3. Elizabeth Cooper Dumdiddle Drakes or Diddledum Ducks (unaccompanied): No. 4 or No. 5 from The Woodpecker and Friends for Descant Recorder (Kirklees Music)
    4. van Eyck Al hebben de Princen haren (Theme and Modo 2 [Var. 1]). No. 27 from van Eyck Der Fluyten Lust-hof: The Beginners’ Collection (XYZ 1042) or No. 19 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
    5. Trad. American Buffalo Girls. Winner Scores All for Descant Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind)
    6. Trad. German Wanderlied (Wohlauf noch getrunken). No. 29 from 50 for Fun, arr. Bonsor (Schott ED 12269)
    7. Sarah Watts Study in Blue: 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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