Your flute grade 8 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
- J. C. Bach Rondeaux (Allegretto): 3rd movt from Concerto in D (Universal UE 12770)
- J. S. Bach Presto (complete): 3rd movt from Sonata in B minor, BWV 1030; or Allegro: 3rd movt from Sonata in A, BWV 1032. J. S. Bach 4 Sonatas for Flute (Bärenreiter BA 5198)
- Devienne Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata No. 1 in E minor (Op. 58 No. 1) (IMC 2734)
- Hoffmeister Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata in D, Op. 21 No. 1. No. 7 from Flötenmusik, Vol. 2 (Henle HN 369)
- Leclair Dolce (Andante) and Giga (Allegro moderato): 1st and 4th movts from Sonata in G, Op. 9 No. 7 (Schott FTR 49). Also available (as Op. 4 No. 7) in: Leclair 2 Sonatas for Flute (Amadeus BP 1574)
- Mozart Allegro: 1st movt from Flute Quartet No. 1 in D, K. 285 (Universal UE 18094)
- Mozart Rondeau (Allegro): 3rd movt from Concerto No. 2 in D, K. 314 (Henle HN 674 or Bärenreiter BA 4855-90)
- Quantz Largo and Vivace: 2nd and 3rd movts from Sonata No. 272 in F; or Affettuoso and Vivace: 2nd and 3rd movts from Sonata No. 275 in Bb. Quantz Flute Sonatas, Vol. 1 (Uppernote Publications UPP101)
- C. Stamitz Presto non assai: 3rd movt from Concerto in D (Sikorski–Music Sales SIK483K)
- Vivaldi Allegro non molto (flute to play in tuttis) and Larghetto: 1st and 2nd movts from Concerto in D minor, RV 431a (‘Il Gran Mogol’) (Edition HH: published with RV 431)
LIST B
- Alfvén The Herdsmaiden’s Dance (Vallflickans Dans). Three Swedish Pieces, arr. Marcusson (Just Flutes)
- Ian Clarke Hypnosis or The Mad Hatter (IC Music: published individually). Also available in: Ian Clarke 3 Pieces for Flute (IC Music)
- Enesco Cantabile (Andante ma non troppo): from Cantabile et Presto (Enoch). Also available in: Flute Music by French Composers (G. Schirmer GS33109)
- German Saltarello (Lazarus Edition)
- Gounod Concertino (Amadeus BP 0570)
- Hindemith Sehr lebhaft (incl. Marsch): 3rd movt from Sonata (Schott ED 2522)
- C. E. Lefebvre Scherzo: No. 2 from Deux pièces, Op. 72 (Zimmermann ZM2723)
- Poulenc Allegretto malincolico: 1st movt from Sonata (Chester CH01605)
- Prokofiev Andante: 3rd movt from Flute Sonata in D, Op. 94 (Boosey & Hawkes)
- James Rae Aquarelle: 1st movt from Sonatina (Reedimensions RD028)
LIST C
- C. P. E. Bach Allegro: 3rd movt from Sonata in A minor for solo flute, Wq. 132 (Bärenreiter BA 6820 or Ricordi Sy 525)
- R. R. Bennett Poco lento–Allegro con grazia: 1st movt from Sonatina for solo flute (Universal UE 12350)
- Boehm Capriccio No. 16 or No. 19 or No. 21: from 24 Capriccios, Op. 26 (Chester CH55209). Also available as: No. 74 or No. 75 or No. 76 from 76 Graded Studies for Flute, Book 2 (Faber)
- Alan Bullard Agile Flute or Breathless Flute: No. 47 or No. 49 from Fifty for Flute, Book 2 (ABRSM)
- Kuhlau Scherzo (complete): 2nd movt from Divertissement No. 5 in G. Kuhlau 6 Divertissements for Solo Flute, Op. 68 (Peters EP 8546)
- John La Montaine Jaunty: 2nd movt from Sonata for solo flute, Op. 24 (Broude Brothers)
- Piazzolla No. 3 or No. 6: from Tango-Études for solo flute (Lemoine)
- Telemann Fantasia No. 3 in B minor, TWV 40:4 (complete), or Fantasia No. 4 in Bb, TWV 40:5 (complete): from 12 Fantasias for Flute (Bärenreiter BA 2971)
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 Flute 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 Flute 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