Your alto/baritone saxophone grade 7 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 in G minor, BWV 1020, trans. Harle (Universal UE 17774: Eb/Bb edition)
    2. Bozza Aria for alto saxophone (Leduc AL 19714)
    3. Koechlin Pour les traits rapides: No. 1 from Études for alto saxophone (Billaudot EFM1008). Also available as: No. 1 from Koechlin 15 études, Op. 188 (Billaudot GB7810)
    4. Paule Maurice Farandoulo di chatouno or Dis Alyscamps l’amo souspire: No. 1 or No. 4 from Tableaux de Provence for alto saxophone (Lemoine 23953)
    5. Saint-Saëns Ad libitum–Allegretto: 2nd movt from Sonata, Op. 166, trans. Rainford for alto saxophone (Forton Music FM134)
    6. Singelée 5e Solo de concert for alto saxophone, Op. 91 (observing cadenza) (Lemoine 26259: published with Opp. 78 and 83)
    7. Philip Sparke Moto Perpetuo: No. 6 from Super Solos for Alto Saxophone (Anglo Music AMP 263-400)
    8. Vinci Adagio and Allegro (from Sonata No. 1). No. 10 from John Harle’s Sax Album To Baker Street and Bach…for alto saxophone (Boosey & Hawkes)
    9. Vivaldi Largo and Allegro: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in G minor, RV 28, trans. Leonard for alto saxophone (Christina Leonard Publications CLP005)

    LIST B

    1. Binge Rondo: 3rd movt from Concerto for alto saxophone (Weinberger)
    2. Armando Ghidoni Paysages... (observing cadenza) (Leduc AL 29729: Eb/Bb edition)
    3. Michel Mériot Sicilienne et danse for alto saxophone (observing cadenza) (Leduc AL 29585)
    4. Amy Quate Passion (observing cadenza) and Faith: 2nd and 3rd movts from Light of Sothis for alto saxophone (Leduc AL 27190)
    5. James Rae Toccata Latino: 1st movt from Sonatina for alto saxophone (Reedimensions RD002)
    6. Ravel Pièce en forme de Habanera, trans. Viard for alto saxophone (Leduc AL 17680)
    7. Ned Rorem Vermouth and Bal Musette: Nos 4 and 3 from Picnic on the Marne for alto saxophone (Boosey & Hawkes). Also available as: No. 5 from John Harle’s Sax Album To Baker Street and Bach…for alto saxophone (Boosey & Hawkes)
    8. Jeanine Rueff Chanson et Passepied for alto saxophone (Leduc AL 20919)
    9. Ulrich Schultheiss Witch Hunt for alto saxophone (Saxtet Publications)

    LIST C

    1. J. S. Bach Courante: from Suite No. 1 for solo saxophone, trans. Londeix (Lemoine 24054)
    2. Ned Bennett Oxford Street. The Jazz Sax Collection for Alto or Baritone Saxophone, arr. Bennett (Faber)
    3. Alan Bullard Saxophone Comique or Reflective Sax: No. 50 or No. 55 from Sixty for Sax (ABRSM)
    4. P. M. Dubois Polka: No. 7 from 17 Études dansantes for solo saxophone (Billaudot GB5740)
    5. Ferling Study in E minor or Study in Bb. No. 68 or No. 69 from 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone, Book 2 (Faber)
    6. Chris Gumbley Hopscotch: No. 11 from 15 More Crazy Jazz Studies for Solo Saxophone (Gumbles Publications)
    7. James Rae Scale Force or Hocus Pocus: No. 28 or No. 34 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone (Universal UE 21613)

    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 Saxophone 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 Saxophone 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 7 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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