Your soprano/tenor 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. C. Bach Sinfonia in Bb (Andante and Presto). Klassische Saxophon-Soli, arr. Both (tenor or soprano saxophone) (Schott ED 7330)
    2. J. S. Bach Allegro: 1st movt from Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020, trans. Harle (Universal UE 17774: Eb/Bb edition)
    3. Glinka Nocturne ‘La Séparation’. Six pièces russes, Vol. 2, arr. Ivanov (tenor or soprano saxophone) (Lemoine 26507)
    4. Saint-Saëns Allegro Appassionato, Op. 43. No. 11 from Solos for the Tenor Saxophone Player, arr. Teal (G. Schirmer GS33057)
    5. Jean Sichler La Fleur et l’oiseau (observing cadenza) (Leduc AL 29596: Eb/Bb edition)
    6. Singelée Caprice for soprano saxophone, Op. 80 (Lemoine 27156: published with Opp. 89 and 102)
    7. Philip Sparke Moto Perpetuo: No. 6 from Super Solos for Tenor Saxophone (Anglo Music AMP 369-400)
    8. Vivaldi Allegro: 1st movt from Concerto in A minor (RV 461), trans. Kynaston for soprano saxophone (Leduc AL 28950)
    9. Vivaldi Adagio and Allegro: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in C minor, RV 53, trans. Leonard for soprano or tenor saxophone (Christina Leonard Publications CLP034)

    LIST B

    1. Armando Ghidoni Paysages... (observing cadenza) (Leduc AL 29729: Eb/Bb edition)
    2. Morton Gould Serenades and Airs, or Ballads and Lovenotes: 2nd or 4th movt from Diversions for tenor saxophone (G. Schirmer GS82055)
    3. Luc Grethen Bon Voyage! for soprano saxophone (observing cadenza) (Accolade ACC.1252)
    4. Paul Harvey Rue Maurice-Berteaux. No. 5 from Saxophone Solos for Bb Tenor, Vol. 2, arr. Harvey (Chester CH55208)
    5. Piazzolla Café 1930: from Histoire du Tango, trans. Isoda for soprano saxophone (Lemoine 26820)
    6. Amy Quate Laguna Madre for soprano saxophone (observing cadenza) (Leduc AL 29622)
    7. Ravel Pièce en forme de Habanera, trans. Viard for soprano saxophone (Leduc AL 17679)
    8. Andy Scott Fujiko for soprano or tenor saxophone (Astute Music)
    9. Villa-Lobos Lent: 2nd movt from Fantasia for soprano or tenor saxophone (Peermusic Classical)

    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 Tenor or Soprano 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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