Your treble (alto) recorder 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. Albinoni Adagio and Allegro: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in A minor. Three Sonatas of the Italian Baroque (Schott OFB 170)
    2. J. S. Bach Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata in A minor (BWV 1020), arr. Sokoll (Peters N4111)
    3. Barsanti Adagio and Allegro: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in C (Bärenreiter HM 183)
    4. Cima Sonata in G minor (for descant recorder). Cima Two Sonatas and Capriccio (Amadeus BP 0680)
    5. Handel Largo and Furioso (Presto): 1st and 3rd movts 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)
    6. J. M. Hotteterre Prelude, Allemande and Gigue: 1st, 2nd and 6th movts from Suite in D minor, Op. 5 No. 4. Hotteterre Four Suites for Recorder, Op. 5, Nos 3–4 (Amadeus BP 0788)
    7. F. Mancini Andante and Allegro: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata No. 2 in E minor. Mancini 12 Sonatas for Treble Recorder (Flute, Oboe) Nos 1–3 (Amadeus BP 0863)
    8. G. Sammartini Allegro: 1st movt from Concerto in F (for descant recorder) (recorder to play in tuttis) (Schott OFB 1021)
    9. Telemann Adagio–Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata in C, TWV 41:C5 (from Essercizii Musici) (Schott OFB 103) or No. 6 from Telemann Sonaten (Editio Musica Budapest Z.13542)
    10. Vivaldi Preludio and Corrente: 1st and 3rd movts from Sonata in F minor, RV 8. Vivaldi 4 Sonatas for Recorder, trans. Varga (Editio Musica Budapest Z.14130)

    LIST B

    1. L. Berkeley Moderato: 1st movt from Sonatina, Op. 13 (Schott OFB 1040)
    2. Christopher Brown Caprice, Op. 68. Recital Pieces for Treble Recorder, Vol. 1 (Forsyth)
    3. Alan Bullard Top Hat Quadrille (for descant recorder): No. 1 from Hat Box (Forsyth)
    4. Alan Davis Time Out of Mind for tenor recorder (Peacock Press P309)
    5. Norman Fulton Reel: 5th movt from Scottish Suite (Schott ED 10466)
    6. John Golland Bossa Nova (for descant recorder) (flutter-tonguing optional): No. 3 from New World Dances, Op. 62 (Forsyth)
    7. Jacob Allegro: 1st movt from Sonatina (Studio Music)
    8. Reizenstein Sarabande and Bourrée: 2nd and 3rd movts from Partita (Schott OFB 1014)
    9. Hans-Ulrich Staeps Ruhig bewegt and Lebhaft: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in Eb (Universal UE 12603)
    10. Peter Thorne Allegro (flutter-tonguing optional): 3rd movt from Sonatina (Warwick Music)

    LIST C

    1. J. S. Bach Bourrée anglaise: 4th movt from Partita in C minor (BWV 1013), arr. Harras (Bärenreiter BA 6432) or P. 89 from The Solo Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR108)
    2. Christopher Ball The Pagan Piper for tenor or treble recorder (Peacock Press PCB0004)
    3. Frans Brüggen Vivace: No. 3 from Five Studies for Finger Control (Broekmans & Van Poppel)
    4. Elizabeth Cooper No. 5: from Ten Advanced Studies for Treble Recorder (Peacock Press P311)
    5. van Eyck Ballette Gravesand or Engels Nachtegaeltje (for descant/tenor recorder). No. 27 or No. 28 from van Eyck Der Fluyten Lust-hof, Vol. 1 (XYZ 1013) or No. 26 or No. 27 from van Eyck Der Fluyten Lust-hof, Vol. 1 (Amadeus BP 0704)
    6. Krähmer Adagio con espressione: No. 1 from 12 Divertimenti for descant recorder (Moeck 1121)
    7. Quantz Capricio. P. 10 from Quantz Fantasias and Caprices, arr. Heyens for treble recorder (Schott OFB 204) or P. 69 from The Solo Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR108)
    8. Telemann Largo and Spirituoso: 1st and 2nd movts from Fantasia No. 8 in G minor, TWV 40:9. No. 8 from Telemann 12 Fantasias, arr. Harras for treble recorder (Bärenreiter BA 6440) or P. 44 from The Solo Recorder, Vol. 1, arr. Robinson (Peacock Press PAR108)

    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 Treble Recorder 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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