Your oboe 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
- J. S. Bach Gavotte (from Fifth French Suite) (observing repeat). Great Winners for Oboe, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
- J. S. Bach Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (from Cantata No. 147) Sounds Classical for Oboe, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 361-400)
- Mozart Adagio (KV Anh. 94, 580a) Sounds Classical for Oboe, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 361-400)
- Besozzi Andante (observing cadenza): 1st movt from Sonata in C (Chester CH01598)
- Corelli, arr. Barbirolli Preludio and Allemanda: 1st and 2nd movts from Concerto (Boosey & Hawkes)
- Geminiani Adagio and Vivace: 1st and 4th movts from Sonata in E minor (Bärenreiter HM 178)
- Handel Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata in Bb , HWV 357 (Fitzwilliam) (Schott ED 10403) or Handel Complete Sonatas for Oboe (Bärenreiter BA 4260) or Handel The Three Authentic Oboe Sonatas (Nova NM100)
- Homilius Amoroso and Vivace: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in F, HoWV XI.1 (Carus)
- G. Sammartini Adagio and Minuetto: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in G, Op. 13 No. 4 (Schott OBB 20)
LIST B
- Bizet Chanson bohème (from Carmen). Great Winners for Oboe, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately) or Classic Experience Collection for Oboe, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
- Copland Simple Gifts (observing repeat) or Fanfare for the Common Man. Copland for Oboe, arr. Hilliard (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
- Cui Orientale (from Kaleydoskop). Time Pieces for Oboe, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
- Debussy Clair de lune (from Suite bergamasque). Classic Experience Collection for Oboe, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
- Joachim Andantino. A Nineteenth Century Collection, Vol. 1 (Nova NM391)
- Richard Kershaw Red Hot Polka or Tango for Two: No. 1 or No. 4 from Have Oboe, Will Travel (Phylloscopus PP475)
- Marco Pütz The Little Rascal: No. 2 from Two Pictures (De Haske Hal Leonard)
- Tchaikovsky Waltz or Neapolitan Song. Tchaikovsky Six Pieces from Children’s Album, Op. 39, arr. Johnson (Fentone F615-401)
- Pam Wedgwood Sliding Doors or Falling: from After Hours for Oboe (Faber)
LIST C
- John Barrett Different Noodles or Groovy Baby: from Horizons for solo oboe (Reedmusic RM851)
- Paul Harris Study in D. No. 40 from 80 Graded Studies for Oboe, Book 1 (Faber)
- Hinke Study in G (P. 24 No. 14) or Study in G minor (P. 29 No. 10): from Elementary Method for Oboe (Peters EP 2418)
- Mike Mower Small Town Swing: from The Good-Tempered Oboe (Itchy Fingers Publications 058)
- James Rae Pole Vault or High Jump: No. 7 or No. 9 from Track and Field for Oboe (Reedimensions RD063)
- Graham Salter Après-Ski Waltz: from 35 Melodic Studies for Oboe (Emerson E413)
- Telemann Adagio: 3rd movt from Fantasia No. 2 in A minor, TWV 40:3. No. 2 from Telemann 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 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