Your oboe grade 4 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. J. S. Bach Menuet and Trio (from BWV 820). Time Pieces for Oboe, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    2. Corelli, arr. Barbirolli Sarabanda and Gavotta: 3rd and 4th movts from Concerto (Boosey & Hawkes)
    3. G. Farnaby Tell Me, Daphne. Three Elizabethan Pieces, arr. H. Craxton (Emerson E169)
    4. Giordani Caro mio ben (omitting small notes in bb. 4–5 and 8–10). Great Winners for Oboe, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    5. Gluck Ballet (from Orfeo) Airs and Dances, arr. Blood (Gonzaga)
    6. Purcell Air (observing repeats) Airs and Dances, arr. Blood (Gonzaga)
    7. arr. Mayer Sailor’s Hornpipe (Alfred)
    8. Mozart Turkish Rondo (from Piano Sonata in A). Classic Experience Collection for Oboe, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    9. Vivaldi Allegro (Finale from Flute Sonata in C). Sounds Classical for Oboe, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 361-400)

    LIST B

    1. Keith Bartlett J. B. Jazz: from Just for Fun! for Oboe (UMP)
    2. Delibes Sous le dôme épais (Flower Duet from Lakmé). Time Pieces for Oboe, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    3. Grieg Moderato ritmico or Moderato. No. 7 or No. 9 from Norwegian Suite, arr. Kelly (Spartan Press SP828)
    4. Richard Kershaw Highland Fling or Cossack Steppe-dance: No. 3 or No. 5 from Have Oboe, Will Travel (Phylloscopus PP475)
    5. Marco Pütz The Dreamer: No. 1 from Two Pictures (De Haske Hal Leonard)
    6. Rodríguez La Cumparsita. Great Winners for Oboe, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    7. Saint-Saëns The Swan (from The Carnival of the Animals). Classic Experience Collection for Oboe, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    8. Tchaikovsky Sweet Dreams or Mazurka. Tchaikovsky Six Pieces from Children’s Album, Op. 39, arr. Johnson (Fentone F615-401)
    9. Pam Wedgwood Call It a Day: from After Hours for Oboe (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. John Barrett It’s Not Where You Think It Is or Whistling: from Horizons for solo oboe (Reedmusic RM851)
    2. Dave Gale Prairie Contrary or Blues for Sam: from Jazz FX for Oboe (Brass Wind)
    3. Garnier Study in F# minor. No. 32 from 80 Graded Studies for Oboe, Book 1 (Faber)
    4. Hinke Study in A minor (P. 23 No. 13) or Study in F (P. 27 No. 5): from Elementary Method for Oboe (Peters EP 2418)
    5. Mike Mower Drifting Off: from The Good-Tempered Oboe (Itchy Fingers Publications 058)
    6. James Rae Triple Jump: No. 8 from Track and Field for Oboe (Reedimensions RD063)
    7. Philip Sparke One-part Invention or Hungarian Dance: No. 36 or No. 38 from Skilful Studies for Oboe (Anglo Music AMP 095-401)

    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 Oboe 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 Oboe 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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