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
- 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)
- Caix d’Hervelois Tambourins 1 and 2 (DC Tambourin 1): 4th and 5th movts from Suite in C, Op. 6 No. 4 (Moeck 2534)
- Corelli Gavotta and Giga: 4th and 5th movts from Sonata in F, Op. 5 No. 10, arr. Beechey (Schott ED 12238)
- 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)
- Handel Ouverture: from Rodrigo. Handel Ballet Music for Descant Recorder, arr. Bali and Kecskeméti (Editio Musica Budapest Z.14408)
- John Reid Moderato and Giga (Allegro): 3rd and 4th movts from Solo No. 2 in G: from Three Solos for descant recorder (Boosey & Hawkes)
- G. Sammartini Allegro assai: 2nd movt from Sonata in G, Op. 2 No. 1. Sammartini Two Sonatas for Descant Recorder (Amadeus BP 0443)
- Senallié Allegro: 4th movt from Sonata in D minor, arr. Beechey (Schott ED 12298)
- 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
- Brian Bonsor Nice ’n’ Easy: No. 2 from Jazzy Recorder 2 (Universal UE 19364)
- Chopin Mazurka (Op. 30 No. 1), arr. Bullard Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
- Debussy The Little Shepherd (from Children’s Corner) Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
- Colin Cowles A Bright Spark: from Power Up! for Recorder (Fentone F870-400)
- Antony Hopkins Jig: 4th movt from Suite for Descant Recorder (Schott ED 10339)
- Bryan Kelly Rigadoon: No. 8 from Globe Theatre Suite for Descant Recorder (Stainer & Bell H452)
- Regner Andante: 1st movt from Pfiffikus (Clever Clogs) (Schott OFB 210)
- Geoffry Russell-Smith A Little Latin or Blue for a Girl: No. 4 or No. 5 from Jazzy Recorder 1 (Universal UE 18828)
- John Turner Aubade: No. 3 from Four Diversions (Forsyth)
LIST C
- Boismortier Rondeau. No. 40 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
- Paul Harris Oswald’s Frolick. No. 44 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
- Peter Bowman Dance of the Raindrops. Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
- Alan Davis Athene Noctua (Little Owl): from Cantus Avium et Volatus (Peacock Press P239)
- van Eyck De France Courant (complete). No. 15 from van Eyck Der Fluyten Lust-hof: The Beginners’ Collection (XYZ 1042)
- Hans-Martin Linde Herbstlied or Hingetupft: from Fünf leichte Stücke. Spielbuch 1 (Ricordi Sy 2614)
- 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