Your oboe 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

    1. J. S. Bach Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata for flute in G minor, BWV 1020 (Bärenreiter BA 8170)
    2. Chopin Variations on a Theme by Rossini. Rossini and Chopin Variations for Oboe, arr. Brown (Nova NM394)
    3. Coste Cavatine, Op. 37 (International Music Diffusion)
    4. Haydn Rondo–Allegretto (observing cadenzas): 3rd movt from Concerto in C, Hob. VIIg/C1 (Breitkopf & Härtel EB 5349)
    5. A. Marcello Andante e spiccato and Adagio, or Adagio and Presto: 1st and 2nd movts, or 2nd and 3rd movts from Concerto in D minor (observing J. S. Bach’s ornaments in Adagio) (Musica Rara MR1891A)
    6. Mozart Allegro: 1st movt from Oboe Quartet in F, K. 370, trans. Hodgson (Peters EP 7077)
    7. Rossini The Silken Ladder Overture, arr. Zakopets and Povzun (Emerson E427)
    8. Telemann Andante and Allegro molto: 1st and 2nd movts from Concerto in E minor, TWV 51:e1 (Sikorski– Music Sales SIK0282K)
    9. Vivaldi Andante and Allegro: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in C minor, RV 53 (Schott ANT 133)
    10. Walmisley Sonatina No. 2 in G (complete). Walmisley Two Sonatinas (Edition HH)

    LIST B

    1. M. Arnold Leggiero and Andante con moto, or Andante con moto and Vivace: 1st and 2nd movts, or 2nd and 3rd movts from Sonatina (Lengnick)
    2. Britten The Grasshopper and The Wasp: from Two Insect Pieces (Faber)
    3. Godard Légende pastorale, Op. 138. A Nineteenth Century Collection, Vol. 1 (Nova NM391)
    4. Grabert Allegretto: 3rd movt from Sonata in G minor, Op. 52 (Simrock EE3008)
    5. Grovlez Sarabande et Allegro (Leduc AL 21162)
    6. Paul Hart The Marionette’s Dance or Bye-Bye Manuel. Star Pieces, Vol. 1 (Forton Music FM166)
    7. Harty Orientale: from Three Miniatures (Stainer & Bell H330)
    8. Poulenc any one movt: from Sonata (Chester CH62711)
    9. James Rae Toccata: 3rd movt from Sonatina (Reedimensions RD086)
    10. Saint-Saëns Ad libitum–Allegretto or Molto allegro: 2nd or 3rd movt from Sonata, Op. 166 (Durand or Peters EP 9196 or Henle HN 964)

    LIST C

    1. John Barrett Latin Holiday: from Horizons for solo oboe (Reedmusic RM851)
    2. Blatt Study in E minor or Study in Bb: No. 8 or No. 9 from 15 Entertaining Etudes, Op. 24 (Edition Musicus)
    3. Britten any one movt except Pan: from Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, Op. 49 (Boosey & Hawkes)
    4. Tom Davoren Riffs and Reflections (complete): No. 3 from Three Moments for solo oboe (Studio Music)
    5. Ross Edwards Yanada or Ulpirra: No. 1 or No. 2 from Two Pieces for solo oboe (Ricordi)
    6. Ferling Studies Nos 3 and 4 or Studies Nos 5 and 6: from 48 Studies for Oboe, Op. 31 (Universal UE 17514)
    7. Mike Mower Dop Dop Doobah and Chilli Con Salsa: from The Good-Tempered Oboe (Itchy Fingers Publications 058)
    8. Telemann Largo and Spirituoso: 1st and 2nd movts from Fantasia No. 8 in E minor, TWV 40:9. No. 8 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 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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