Your treble (alto) recorder 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. Beethoven Rondo (from Sonata in G minor, Op. 49 No. 1), arr. Bullard Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    2. Dornel Chaconne Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    3. Handel Alla Siciliana and Allegro: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in F, Op. 1 No. 11, HWV 369 (Schott OFB 40) or Handel Complete Sonatas for Recorder (Faber or Bärenreiter BA 4259)
    4. Handel Vivace: 2nd movt from Sonata in D minor, HWV 367a (Fitzwilliam Sonata No. 3). Handel Complete Sonatas for Recorder (Faber or Bärenreiter BA 4259) or Handel The Fitzwilliam Sonatas for Treble Recorder (Schott ED 10062)
    5. J. B. Loeillet Allegro: 4th movt from Sonata in C, Op. 3 No. 1 (Schott ED 11088) or J. B. Loeillet 12 Sonatas for Treble Recorder, Op. 3, Nos 1–3 (Amadeus BP 0951)
    6. B. Marcello Adagio and Allegro: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in D minor, Op. 2 No. 2. Marcello Sonatas for Treble Recorder, Op. 2, Vol. 1 (Bärenreiter HM 151) or Marcello 12 Sonatas for Flute, Op. 2, Vol. 1 (Editio Musica Budapest Z.13476) or No. 10 from First Repertoire Pieces for Recorder (Treble), arr. Rosenberg (Boosey & Hawkes)
    7. Telemann Largo and Vivace: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in Bb, TWV 41:B3. Telemann Four Sonatas from Der getreue Musikmeister (Bärenreiter HM 6)
    8. Valentine Giga (Allegro): 4th movt from Sonata in Bb. No. 6 from Sonatas by Old English Masters, Vol. 2 (Bärenreiter HM 209)
    9. Vivaldi Largo from Concerto, RV 106. No. 9 from Vivaldi Slow Movements for Recorder (Treble), arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR105)

    LIST B

    1. Bizet Entr’acte (from Carmen) Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    2. Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    3. Alan Bullard Rondino Recital Pieces for Treble Recorder, Vol. 2 (Forsyth)
    4. Nicholas Marshall Caprice Recital Pieces for Treble Recorder, Vol. 2 (Forsyth)
    5. Douglas Coombes Where the Wild Thyme Blows: from Cool Aeolian Blue for Treble Recorder (Brass Wind)
    6. Elizabeth Cooper Chattering Monkeys and Leaping Lambs (accompanied): Nos 7 and 8 from Animal Antics for Treble Recorder (Peacock Press P45)
    7. Genzmer Ruhig fliessend and Heiter: 2nd and 3rd movts from Sonata (Schott OFB 32)
    8. John Graves Festivo: 3rd movt from Divertimento (Schott ED 10828)
    9. Michael Jacques Dance: 2nd movt from Midsummer Suite (Roberton)

    LIST C

    1. Sally Adams Study No. 9 (Tyrol Tune) Treble Recorder Studies, Book 2 (Cramer)
    2. Playford Study No. 2 (Czar of Muscovy) Treble Recorder Studies, Book 2 (Cramer)
    3. Peter Bowman Five-a-side. Time Pieces for Treble/Alto Recorder, Vol. 2, arr. Bennetts and Bowman (ABRSM)
    4. Alan Davis Athene Noctua (Little Owl): from Cantus Avium et Volatus (Peacock Press P239)
    5. Hans Keuning Tranquillo or Vivace: No. 7 or No. 9 from 12 Difficult Studies for Treble Recorder (Harmonia XHU2165)
    6. Hans-Martin Linde Giocoso: No. 16 from Modern Exercises for Treble Recorder (Schott ED 4797)
    7. Quantz Allegro. P. 11 from Quantz Fantasias and Caprices for Treble Recorder, arr. Heyens (Schott OFB 204)

    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 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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