Candidates for Grade 6, 7 or 8 exams must already have passed ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz instrument. For full details including a list of accepted alternatives, see Regulation 1d.
Practical Saxophone Grade 8 exams consist of three pieces, chosen by the candidate from the appropriate lists in the current syllabus, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural tests.
Total marks in all individual Practical exams are 150. 100 marks are required to achieve Pass, 120 marks to pass with Merit and 130 marks to pass with Distinction.
Find out about our Performance Grades and alternative route to a graded music exam.
Practical Saxophone Grade 8 exams consist of three pieces, chosen by the candidate from the appropriate lists in the current syllabus, scales and broken chords, sight-reading and aural tests.
Total marks in all individual Practical exams are 150. 100 marks are required to achieve Pass, 120 marks to pass with Merit and 130 marks to pass with Distinction.
Find out about our Performance Grades and alternative route to a graded music exam.
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach trans. Harle |
 Adagio And Allegro2nd movt And 3rd movt from Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020 |
 J. S. Bach: Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020, trans. Harle (E♭/B♭ edition)Universal (UE17774) More details |
| 2 | Büsser trans. Mule |
Asturias Op. 84 (observing printed cadenza) |
|
| 3 | H. Eccles trans. Rascher |
Sonata (complete) |
|
| 4 | Grovlez | Sarabande et Allegro |
|
| 5 | Guilhaud arr. Strevens |
Polonaise from Trois Pièces |
 Guilhaud: Trois Pièces, for Alto or Baritone Saxophone, arr. StrevensSamek Music (CSCP007) More details |
| 6 | Koechlin | Pour la longueur de la respiration et l'égalité du son from 15 études, Op. 188 |
|
| 7 | P. Maurice | Lou Cabridan No. 5 from Tableaux de Provence (observing printed cadenza) |
|
| 8 | V. Monti arr. Kovács |
Czardas |
|
| 9 | Gary Schocker | Allegro moderato 1st movt from Sonata for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 10 | Singelée | Concertino Op. 78 |
 Singelée: 3e et 5e Solos de concert / Concertino Op. 78, for Alto SaxophoneLemoine (26259) More details |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R. R. Bennett | Samba Triste 1st movt from Three Piece Suite |
|
| 2 | John Carmichael | Obsession (Habanera) And Bahama Rhumba (The Caribbean) No. 2 And No. 3 from Latin American Dances |
|
| 3 | Roderick Elms | Cygncopations |
|
| 4 | Françaix | Any three dances from Cinq danses exotiques (observing repeats in No. 1) |
|
| 5 | Heiden | Diversion | |
| 6 | Hindemith | Ruhig bewegt And Lebhaft 1st movt And 2nd movt from Sonata for Alto Horn |
|
| 7 | W. Jacobi | Allegro ma non troppo 1st movt from Sonata for Alto Saxophone |
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| 8 | Lawson Lunde | Allegro vivace 3rd movt from Sonata for Alto Saxophone |
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| 9 | James Rae | Gymnopedie Bleu And East Coast Mainline 2nd movt And 3rd movt from Sonatina for Alto Saxophone |
|
| 10 | Thomys | No. 4 And No. 5 from Miniatures in Various Styles |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach trans. Londeix |
Menuet 1 And Menuet 2 And Gigue from Suite No. 1 |
|
| 2 | Alan Bullard | Wandering Sax Or Sax Polonaise No. 59 Or No. 60 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 3 | P.-M. Dubois | Tango No. 14 from 17 Études dansantes |
|
| 4 | Ferling | Study in C |
|
| 5 | Karg-Elert | Preambolo |
|
| 6 | Graham Fitkin | Jim and Pam and Pam and Jim |
|
| 7 | James Rae | Volante No. 13 from 18 Concert Etudes for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Devil's Brew No. 36 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 9 | Karen Street | Spanish Colours from Streetworks |
|
| 10 | Mark-Anthony Turnage | Two Memorials (complete) |
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach trans. Harle |
Adagio And Allegro 2nd movt And 3rd movt from Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020 |
J. S. Bach: Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020, trans. Harle (E♭/B♭ edition) Universal (UE17774) More details |
| 2 | J. S. Bach trans. Nichols |
Andante And Allegro 3rd movt And 4th movt from Sonata da Gamba, BWV 1028 |
 J. S. Bach: Sonata da Gamba for Tenor Saxophone, trans. NicholsSaxtet Publications (Sax014) More details |
| 3 | Demersseman | Premier Solo (Andante et Boléro) | |
| 4 | Devienne trans. Jaeckel |
Rondo from Sonata No. 4 |
 Devienne: Adagio and Rondo for Tenor Saxophone, trans. JaeckelSouthern Music (HL03775259) More details |
| 5 | J. H. Fiocco arr. Bazelaire and Londeix |
Allègre 1st movt from Concerto |
|
| 6 | Guilhaud arr. Strevens |
Polonaise from Trois Pièces |
 Guilhaud: Trois Pièces, for Soprano or Tenor Saxophone, arr. StrevensSamek Music (CSCP006) More details |
| 7 | B. Marcello arr. Joosen |
Allegro moderato And Adagio 1st movt And 2nd movt from Concerto in C minor |
|
| 8 | B. Marcello arr. Joosen |
Adagio And Allegro 2nd movt And 3rd movt from Concerto in C minor |
|
| 9 | Singelée | Fantaisie pastorale Op. 56 (observing printed cadenza) |
|
| 10 | Singelée | Concerto Op. 57 (observing coda) |
 Singelée: 4e et 6e Solos de concert / Fantaisie brillante / Concerto Op. 57, for Tenor SaxophoneLemoine (26258) More details |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Addison | Harlequin | |
| 2 | Alan Bullard | Workout | |
| 3 | John Carmichael | Allegro moderato 1st movt from Sonata–Music Grave & Gay |
|
| 4 | Geoff Eales | Farewell Patagonia | |
| 5 | Roderick Elms | Cygncopations (observing lower line in ossias) |
|
| 6 | Pedro Iturralde | Kalamatianos And Funky 1st movt And 2nd movt from Suite hellénique (as written, ignoring improvisation option) |
|
| 7 | Piazzolla trans. Isoda |
Night-club 1960 from Histoire du Tango (last note may be played an 8ve lower) |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Barcarolle And Toccata 2nd movt And 3rd movt from Sonatina for Soprano Saxophone |
|
| 9 | Andy Scott | Respectfully Yours | |
| 10 | Villa-Lobos | Animé 1st movt from Fantasia for Saxophone |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. S. Bach trans. Londeix |
Menuet 1 And Menuet 2 And Gigue from Suite No. 1 |
|
| 2 | Alan Bullard | Wandering Sax Or Sax Polonaise No. 59 Or No. 60 from Sixty for Sax |
|
| 3 | P.-M. Dubois | Tango No. 14 from 17 Études dansantes |
|
| 4 | Ferling | Study in C | |
| 5 | Karg-Elert | Preambolo | |
| 6 | Graham Fitkin | Jim and Pam and Pam and Jim | |
| 7 | James Rae | Volante No. 13 from 18 Concert Etudes for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 8 | James Rae | Devil's Brew No. 36 from 36 More Modern Studies for Solo Saxophone |
|
| 9 | Karen Street | Spanish Colours from Streetworks |
|
| 10 | Mark-Anthony Turnage | Two Memorials (complete) |
Candidates enter for an exam on Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Baritone saxophone. There are separate repertoire lists for the Eb and Bb instruments; all other requirements are common to the four instruments.
Related instrument option: At all grades, candidates for any of the four saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone) have the option of playing their List C piece on one of the other three. There is no advantage to be gained over other candidates in taking this option, and all the other requirements must be played using the saxophone on which the candidate has entered.
