Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Descant Recorder Grade 3 2022 Syllabus:

Grade 3 Scales

ABRSM Scales and Arpeggios for Descant Recorder, Grades 1-5

Grade 3 Sight-Reading

ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading tests, Grades 1-5

Grade 3 Aural

Specimen Aural Tests, Grades 4-5 (book only)
Specimen Aural Tests, Grades 1-3 (book and CD)
Aural Training in Practice, Grades 1-3 (book and CD)

Grade 3 Pieces

THREE PIECES: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three lists

LIST A

1 Anon. Marsch in F, arr. Kretschmann upper part Duets for Fun: Descant Recorder (Schott) [Duet]
2 Byrd Wolsey’s Wilde, arr. Yeo Renaissance Recorder Anthology for Soprano (Descant) Recorder, Vol. 2 (Schott)
3 Elizabeth Cooper Cheeky Sparrow (No. 8 from The Woodpecker and Friends) Elizabeth Cooper: The Woodpecker and Friends (Kirklees Music)[Solo/Piano]
4 van Eyck Janneman en Alemoer (from Der Fluyten Lust-hof) complete van Eyck: Der Fluyten Lust-hof: The Beginners’ Collection (XYZ)[Solo]
5 van Eyck Philis schoon Herderinne (met 2) (from Der Fluyten Lust-hof) Theme only; upper part van Eyck: Der Fluyten Lust-hof, Vol. 2 (XYZ or Amadeus) [Duet]
6 Gossec Tambourin, arr. Griffiths World Famous Classics for Recorder (Fentone) Piano Accomp.
7 Handel Bourrée (from The Fireworks Music), arr. Lawrance Easy Winners for Descant Recorder (Brass Wind), with CD
8 Prokofiev March (No. 10 from Musiques d’enfants, Op. 65), arr. Bennetts & Bowman Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1 (ABRSM)
9 Susato Basse danse bergeret (from Musyck Boexken), arr. Bullard Time Pieces for Descant/Soprano Recorder, Vol. 1 (ABRSM) [Duet]
10 Telemann Presto, arr. Kostujak Baroque Recorder Anthology for Soprano Recorder, Vol. 2 (Schott) [Mixed Duet]

LIST B

1 Paolo Conte At Sunset, arr. Adams First Repertoire for Descant Recorder (Faber)
2 Haydn Pastorale (1st movt from Partie), arr. Bergmann First Repertoire for Descant Recorder (Faber)
3 Gluck Aria (from Orfeo ed Euridice), arr. Lawrance Winner Scores All for Descant Recorder (Brass Wind) With CD, Piano Acomp..
4 Andrew Lloyd Webber The Music of the Night (from Phantom of the Opera), arr. Lawrance Winner Scores All for Descant Recorder (Brass Wind) With CD, Piano Acomp.
5 Peter Hope Bonny at Morn (No. 2 from Geordie Tunes) Peter Hope: Geordie Tunes (Forsyth) [Mixed Duet]
6 Bryan Kelly Lament (No. 5 from Globe Theatre Suite) Bryan Kelly: Globe Theatre Suite (Stainer & Bell) [Duet/Solo] Piano Acomp.
7 Rainer Lischka Marianne and the Blue Notes (from In a Groovy Mood) Rainer Lischka: In a Groovy Mood (Girolamo Musikverlag) Piano Acomp.
8 Sasha Johnson Manning Asleep in a Boat (No. 4 from A Birthday Garland) Sasha Johnson Manning: A Birthday Garland (Forsyth)[Solo]
9 Trad. Irish The Londonderry Air, arr. A. & J. Oosthuizen upper part Easy Duets from Around the World for Descant (Soprano) Recorders (Wild Music Publications)
10 Sarah Watts So There (from Razzamajazz Duets and Trios for Recorder) upper part Sarah Watts: Razzamajazz Duets and Trios for Recorder (Kevin Mayhew) [Solo]

LIST C

1 L. Bernstein America (from West Side Story), arr. Lawrance Winner Scores All for Descant (Brass Wind) With CD, Piano Acomp. Acomp.
2 Tchaikovsky Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy (from The Nutcracker), arr. Lawrance Winner Scores All for Descant Recorder (Brass Wind) With CD, Piano Acomp.
3 Douglas Coombes Gimcracke (from Music for a Cartoon) Douglas Coombes: Music for a Cartoon (Brass Wind)
4 Doris da Costa Birdsong Descant Recorder Medley, Book 2 (Cramer)
5 Alan Davis Pentacle upper part A Journey from the Middle Ages to the Present Day (Bärenreiter Praha)
6 Dave Gale Stop and Guiro (from JazzFX for Descant Recorder) upper part Dave Gale: JazzFX for Descant Recorder (Brass Wind)
7 Alan Haughton Seven Seas Hornpipe (from Fun Club for Descant Recorder, Grade 2–3) Alan Haughton: Fun Club for Descant Recorder, Grade 2–3: Student Copy (Kevin Mayhew) Teachers copy.
8 Playford ’Twas within a Furlong of Edinburgh Town No. 23 from 50 Graded Studies for Recorder (Faber)
9 Russell-Smith Warm and Cosy (from Easy Blue Recorder) Russell-Smith: Easy Blue Recorder (Universal)
10 Sarah Watts Study in Orange (from Fresh Air for Descant Recorder) Sarah Watts: Fresh Air for Descant Recorder (Kevin Mayhew)

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ABRSM Descant Recorder Grade 3 2022 Additional Resources & information

Theory of Music

ABRSM Music Theory Exam Materials
Additional Music Theory Resources

Syllabus amendments

The ABRSM will post updates to the syllabus – e.g. changes to publication details or other minor corrections or clarifications – at www.abrsm.org/syllabuscorrections.

Syllabus revision

The ABRSM has not scheduled the next revision of the Woodwind Syllabus. The ABRSM will post advance notice of planned changes to the Woodwind Syllabus (including syllabus overlap information) at www.abrsm.org/syllabusupdates.

Photocopies & downloads
Candidates should not perform from unauthorised photocopies (or other kinds of copies) or illegal downloads of copyright music in examinations. There are limited circumstances where can copies be used in an examination the UK. The MPA’s Code of Fair Practice gives further guidance. Before making a copy an application should be made to the copyright holder and evidence of permission should be brought to the exam. Candidates and Applicants must act within the law with regard to copyright.