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

    1. J. S. Bach Gavotte (from Fifth French Suite) (observing repeat). Great Winners for Oboe, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    2. J. S. Bach Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (from Cantata No. 147) Sounds Classical for Oboe, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 361-400)
    3. Mozart Adagio (KV Anh. 94, 580a) Sounds Classical for Oboe, arr. Sparke (Anglo Music AMP 361-400)
    4. Besozzi Andante (observing cadenza): 1st movt from Sonata in C (Chester CH01598)
    5. Corelli, arr. Barbirolli Preludio and Allemanda: 1st and 2nd movts from Concerto (Boosey & Hawkes)
    6. Geminiani Adagio and Vivace: 1st and 4th movts from Sonata in E minor (Bärenreiter HM 178)
    7. 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)
    8. Homilius Amoroso and Vivace: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in F, HoWV XI.1 (Carus)
    9. G. Sammartini Adagio and Minuetto: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in G, Op. 13 No. 4 (Schott OBB 20)

    LIST B

    1. 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)
    2. Copland Simple Gifts (observing repeat) or Fanfare for the Common Man. Copland for Oboe, arr. Hilliard (Boosey & Hawkes: piano accomp. published separately)
    3. Cui Orientale (from Kaleydoskop). Time Pieces for Oboe, Vol. 2, arr. Denley (ABRSM)
    4. Debussy Clair de lune (from Suite bergamasque). Classic Experience Collection for Oboe, arr. Lanning (Cramer)
    5. Joachim Andantino. A Nineteenth Century Collection, Vol. 1 (Nova NM391)
    6. Richard Kershaw Red Hot Polka or Tango for Two: No. 1 or No. 4 from Have Oboe, Will Travel (Phylloscopus PP475)
    7. Marco Pütz The Little Rascal: No. 2 from Two Pictures (De Haske Hal Leonard)
    8. Tchaikovsky Waltz or Neapolitan Song. Tchaikovsky Six Pieces from Children’s Album, Op. 39, arr. Johnson (Fentone F615-401)
    9. Pam Wedgwood Sliding Doors or Falling: from After Hours for Oboe (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. John Barrett Different Noodles or Groovy Baby: from Horizons for solo oboe (Reedmusic RM851)
    2. Paul Harris Study in D. No. 40 from 80 Graded Studies for Oboe, Book 1 (Faber)
    3. 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)
    4. Mike Mower Small Town Swing: from The Good-Tempered Oboe (Itchy Fingers Publications 058)
    5. James Rae Pole Vault or High Jump: No. 7 or No. 9 from Track and Field for Oboe (Reedimensions RD063)
    6. Graham Salter Après-Ski Waltz: from 35 Melodic Studies for Oboe (Emerson E413)
    7. 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


    You’ve recently looked at...