Your treble (alto) recorder grade 3 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. Anon. Wilson’s Love or The King’s Mistress. No. 18 or No. 20 from The Renaissance Recorder (Treble), arr. Rosenberg (Boosey & Hawkes) or No. 4 from First Repertoire Pieces for Recorder (Treble), arr. Rosenberg (Boosey & Hawkes)
    2. Byrd La volta (from Fitzwilliam Virginal Book), arr. Bullard. Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    3. Gluck Aria (from Orfeo ed Euridice). Winner Scores All for Treble Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    4. Handel La réjouissance. Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks, arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR124)
    5. de Lavigne Menuets 1 and 2: 5th and 6th movts from Sonata in C, Op. 2 No. 3, ‘La Dubois’. De Lavigne Three Sonatas, Op. 2, Nos 1–3 (Noetzel N3434) or No. 11 from Dances of the Baroque Era (Editio Musica Budapest Z.13100)
    6. B. Marcello Gavotta and Minuet (omitting DC): 4th and 5th movts from Sonata in Bb, Op. 2 No. 7. Marcello Sonatas for Treble Recorder, Op. 2, Vol. 3 (Bärenreiter HM 152) or Marcello 12 Sonatas for Flute, Op. 2, Vol. 2 (Editio Musica Budapest Z.13477) or No. 12 from Dances of the Baroque Era (Editio Musica Budapest Z.13100)
    7. Schickhardt Air, arr. Bergmann. Concert Repertoire for Recorder, arr. Adams (Faber)
    8. Telemann Sarabande and Air Angloise. Nos 6 and 9 from Miscellaneous Dances from Telemann’s Ouvertures, Book 2 (Treble), arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR117)
    9. Vivaldi Largo cantabile from Concerto, RV 90 (‘Il Gardellino’). No. 3 from Vivaldi Slow Movements for Recorder (Treble), arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR105)

    LIST B

    1. Doris da Costa Scribbles. Treble Recorder Medley, arr. da Costa and Adams (Cramer)
    2. Grieg Solveig’s Song (from Peer Gynt) Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    3. Kid Ory Muskrat Ramble, arr. Bullard Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    4. Alan Haughton Seven Seas Hornpipe or Stroll On: from Fun Club for Treble Recorder, Grade 2–3 (Kevin Mayhew)
    5. Joplin The Strenuous Life Winner Scores All for Treble Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    6. Tchaikovsky Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy Winner Scores All for Treble Recorder, arr. Lawrance (Brass Wind: piano accomp. published separately)
    7. Mendelssohn O for the Wings of a Dove Music for Treble Recorder, Book 1, arr. Hand (Kevin Mayhew)
    8. Rubinstein Melody in F Music for Treble Recorder, Book 1, arr. Hand (Kevin Mayhew)
    9. Schumann Romance, arr. Bergmann. Concert Repertoire for Recorder, arr. Adams (Faber)

    LIST C

    1. Anon. Nos 1 and 5 from Tunes for the Canary Bird. The Bird Fancyer’s Delight (Schott ED 10442)
    2. Kathryn Bennetts Colourful G. Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    3. Doris da Costa Study No. 33 Treble Recorder Studies, Book 1 (Cramer)
    4. Playford Study No. 30 (Mr Isaac’s Maggot) Treble Recorder Studies, Book 1 (Cramer)
    5. Demoivre Bouree: 5th movt from Suite in A minor. P. 9 from Einzelstücke und Suiten (Schott OFB 21)
    6. Hans Keuning Giocoso or Allegro: No. 14 or No. 19 from 25 Studies for Treble Recorder (Harmonia XHU2164)
    7. Trad. Scotch Tune. No. 13 from The Flute Master (Schott ED 6605)

    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 Recorder 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 Recorder 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 1-3 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 1-3 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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