Your descant (soprano) recorder grade 5 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. Bigaglia Andante and Presto: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in G, Op. 1 No. 2. Bigaglia 12 Sonatas, Op. 1, Nos 1–4 (Amadeus BP 0317)
    2. Caix d’Hervelois Tambourins 1 and 2 (DC Tambourin 1): 4th and 5th movts from Suite in C, Op. 6 No. 4 (Moeck 2534)
    3. Corelli Gavotta and Giga: 4th and 5th movts from Sonata in F, Op. 5 No. 10, arr. Beechey (Schott ED 12238)
    4. Corelli Vivace and Allegro (from Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 8, ‘Christmas Concerto’). Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    5. Handel Ouverture: from Rodrigo. Handel Ballet Music for Descant Recorder, arr. Bali and Kecskeméti (Editio Musica Budapest Z.14408)
    6. John Reid Moderato and Giga (Allegro): 3rd and 4th movts from Solo No. 2 in G: from Three Solos for descant recorder (Boosey & Hawkes)
    7. G. Sammartini Allegro assai: 2nd movt from Sonata in G, Op. 2 No. 1. Sammartini Two Sonatas for Descant Recorder (Amadeus BP 0443)
    8. Senallié Allegro: 4th movt from Sonata in D minor, arr. Beechey (Schott ED 12298)
    9. Telemann Aria 3 and Aria 6: 4th and 7th movts from Partita No. 4 in G minor, TWV 41:g2. Telemann Die kleine Kammermusik: 6 Partien (Amadeus BP 2400 or Bärenreiter HM 47)

    LIST B

    1. Brian Bonsor Nice ’n’ Easy: No. 2 from Jazzy Recorder 2 (Universal UE 19364)
    2. Chopin Mazurka (Op. 30 No. 1), arr. Bullard Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    3. Debussy The Little Shepherd (from Children’s Corner) Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    4. Colin Cowles A Bright Spark: from Power Up! for Recorder (Fentone F870-400)
    5. Antony Hopkins Jig: 4th movt from Suite for Descant Recorder (Schott ED 10339)
    6. Bryan Kelly Rigadoon: No. 8 from Globe Theatre Suite for Descant Recorder (Stainer & Bell H452)
    7. Regner Andante: 1st movt from Pfiffikus (Clever Clogs) (Schott OFB 210)
    8. Geoffry Russell-Smith A Little Latin or Blue for a Girl: No. 4 or No. 5 from Jazzy Recorder 1 (Universal UE 18828)
    9. John Turner Aubade: No. 3 from Four Diversions (Forsyth)

    LIST C

    1. Boismortier Rondeau. No. 40 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
    2. Paul Harris Oswald’s Frolick. No. 44 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
    3. Peter Bowman Dance of the Raindrops. Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    4. Alan Davis Athene Noctua (Little Owl): from Cantus Avium et Volatus (Peacock Press P239)
    5. van Eyck De France Courant (complete). No. 15 from van Eyck Der Fluyten Lust-hof: The Beginners’ Collection (XYZ 1042)
    6. Hans-Martin Linde Herbstlied or Hingetupft: from Fünf leichte Stücke. Spielbuch 1 (Ricordi Sy 2614)
    7. Jan Nykl Study in Bb or Study in Eb: No. 12 or No. 13 from 35 Studies for Soprano Recorder (Bärenreiter Praha H7132)

    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 4-5 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 4-5 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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