Your grade 8 double bass 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. Cimador Allegro: 1st movt from Concerto in G (Yorke YE0003)
    2. H. Eccles Adagio and Corrente (Allegro con spirito): 3rd and 2nd movts from Sonata in G minor, trans. Zimmermann (IMC 1712)
    3. Pergolesi Comodo and Presto: 1st and 4th movts from Sinfonia in F (separately, trans. Elliott: Bartholomew 010) or Three Sonatas for Double Bass and Piano (trans. Drew: University of Miami)
    4. Pichl Allegro moderato: 1st movt from Concerto in C (Bartholomew 007)
    5. Tartini Adagio cantabile, trans. Drew (St Francis Music Publications)
    6. Telemann Lento and Allegro, or Lento and Allegro: 1st and 2nd, or 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in D, TWV 41:D6, trans. Sankey (IMC 2304)
    7. Vivaldi Largo and Allegro, or Largo and Allegro: 1st and 2nd, or 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata No. 6 in Bb, RV 46. Vivaldi Complete Sonatas for Violoncello (Bärenreiter BA 6995) or (separately, trans. Zimmermann: IMC 1473)

    LIST B

    1. Bellini, arr. Bottesini Final de La somnambule. No. 3 from Bottesini Arias for Double Bass and Piano (Yorke YE0023)
    2. Bottesini Rêverie in D (McTier Music MM 203)
    3. Dittersdorf Adagio: 2nd movt from Concerto No. 2. Dittersdorf Concertos for Double Bass (Yorke YE0059)
    4. Fauré Après un rêve, trans. Zimmermann (IMC 1740)
    5. Goué Concertino, Op. 10 (Billaudot R19143)
    6. Nielsen Romanze: No. 1 from Fantasy Pieces, Op. 2, trans. Drew (St Francis Music Publications)
    7. Tuláček Valse miniature. No. 2 from Tuláček Three Pieces for Double Bass and Piano (Recital Music RM021)

    LIST C

    1. Christopher Benstead Finale (Presto): No. 4 from Four Episodes (Yorke YE0085) accomp.
    2. Bottesini Study No. 110 or No. 114: from Method for Double Bass, Part 1 (Yorke YE0076) solo
    3. Derek Bourgeois Allegro pesante or Allegro commodo: No. 5 or No. 8 from Fantasy Pieces for Double Bass (Brass Wind) solo
    4. Dragonetti No. 7 or No. 8: from 12 Waltzes (Henle HN 847) solo
    5. Piazzolla Kicho (starting at Allegro) (Tonos) accomp.
    6. A. Reynolds Hornpipe (Bartholomew 004) accomp.
    7. A. Ridout Grave: 1st movt from Concerto for Double Bass (Yorke YE0044) accomp.
    8. Eric Scrève Sweet Bass Ballad (Combre C06547) accomp.

    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 Double Bass Grades 6-8 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 Double Bass 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 8 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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