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Please use the links below to find the titles recommended in the ABRSM Exam Double Bass Initial Grade from 2024 Syllabus:
Initial Grade Pieces
One piece must be chosen from each of Lists A, B and C.
Please note that the first three pieces in each list are found in the ABRSM Double Bass Initial Grade from 2024 Exam Pack :
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| List A | Composer | Piece Details | Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broekhuizen | Elsje Fiderelsje, arr. Blackwell | |
| 2 | Trad. Czech | “Stamping Dance, arr. K. & D. Blackwell upper note in double stops optional | |
| 3 | Trad. Swedish | The bear is sleeping, arr. K. & D. Blackwell | |
| 4 | Catherine Elliott | Rondo Duo ending at b. 24 – DUET/PIANO | The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 2 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 5 | Trad. | Twinkle Duet, arr. Elliott – DUET/PIANO | The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 2 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 6 | Peter Furniss | Round and Round starting at letter B | No. 8 (not 8a) from In Concert: Brilliant Solos for Beginner Bass (Da Capo) |
| 7 | Katrina Gordon | Twittering Sparrows (No. 7 from Feathered Friends) | Katrina Gordon: Feathered Friends (Recital Music) |
| 8 | Trad. | Down by the station, arr. Elliott | Ready Steady Go (Bartholomew) |
| 9 | Trad. | The Jolly Miller, arr. Elliott | Ready Steady Go (Bartholomew) |
| 10 | Trad. | Miss Mary Mac, arr. Lillywhite, Marshall, Hussey & Sebba – DUET/PIANO | Abracadabra Double Bass, Book 1 (Collins Music) |
| 11 | Margery Dawe | Canada – Sleigh Ride (from More Travel Tunes) | Margery Dawe: Canada – Sleigh Ride (ABRSM) |
| 12 | S. Nelson | Fish Cakes and Apple Pie | S. Nelson: Fish Cakes and Apple Pie (ABRSM) |
| 13 | Christopher Norton | New Toy (No. 9 from Microjazz for Starters) | Christopher Norton: New Toy (ABRSM) |
| List B | |||
| 1 | Bob Dylan | Blowin’ in the Wind, arr. Iles | |
| 2 | Huws Jones | London Eye | |
| 3 | Althea Talbot-Howard | The Knights’ Pavane | |
| 4 | Catherine Elliott | Swan Song | The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 2 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 5 | Peter Furniss | So Slow | No. 7 (not 7a) from In Concert: Brilliant Solos for Beginner Bass (Da Capo) |
| 6 | Katrina Gordon | Flight of the Swallows (No. 5 from Feathered Friends) | Katrina Gordon: Feathered Friends (Recital Music) |
| 7 | Thomas Gregory | Footprints in the Snow | Vamoosh Double Bass, Book 1 (Vamoosh) |
| 8 | S. Nelson | Lullaby (No.12 from Right From the Start), arr. Elliott slurs optional | S. Nelson: Right from the Start for Double Bass (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 9 | S. Nelson | Swingalong ‘E’ version – DUET/PIANO | P.18 from Tetratunes for Double Bass (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 10 | Trad. French | Au clair de la lune, arr. Lillywhite, Marshall, Hussey & Sebba – DUET/PIANO | Abracadabra Double Bass, Book 1 (Collins Music) |
| 11 | Thomas Gregory | Silent Friends | Thomas Gregory: Silent Friends (ABRSM) |
| 12 | Huws Jones | Gone for Good (No.12 from Ten O’Clock Rock) | Huws Jones: Gone for Good (ABRSM) |
| 13 | African- American Spiritual | All night, all day, arr. Iles | All night, all day (ABRSM) |
| List C | |||
| 1 | Huws Jones | Too Much Rosin! | |
| 2 | Nancy Litten | Holiday Mood | |
| 3 | Trad. | Old MacDonald, arr. Elliott | |
| 4 | Jan Faulkner | Bowling Along (No.1 from First Bass) slurs optional | Jan Faulkner: First Bass (Recital Music) |
| 5 | Jan Faulkner | Raggy Times (No. 4 from First Bass) | Jan Faulkner: First Bass (Recital Music) |
| 6 | Thomas Gregory | Walk on Mars! slides optional; observing DC, as in accomp. | Vamoosh Double Bass, Book 1 (Vamoosh) |
| 7 | S. Nelson | Don’t Bother Me (No.13 from Right From the Start) | S. Nelson: Right from the Start for Double Bass (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 8 | S. Nelson | Manchester United ‘E’ version; with 1st repeat – DUET/PIANO | P. 28 from Tetratunes for Double Bass (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 9 | S. Nelson | Otf We Go! – DUET/PIANO | The Essential String Method, Double Bass Book 1 (Boosey & Hawkes) |
| 10 | T. Osborne | Russian Circus | The Really Easy Bass Book (Faber) |
| 11 | Huws Jones | Ten O’Clock Rock (No. 9 from Ten O’Clock Rock) | Huws Jones: Ten O’Clock Rock (ABRSM) |
| 12 | Peter Wilson | Bow Rock (No. 4 from Stringpops 1) | Peter Wilson: Bow Rock (ABRSM) |
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ABRSM Double Bass Initial Grade from 2024 additional resources & information
Theory of Music
ABRSM Theory of Music Exam Materials
Additional Theory of Music Resources
ABRSM Double Bass Initial Grade from 2024
Overlap
Bowed Strings candidates worldwide may play their three pieces from the 2020–2023 Bowed Strings Syllabus until 31 December 2024. All pieces must be from the same syllabus – candidates may not present a mixture from old and new syllabuses.
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.
Revision
The ABRSM has not scheduled the next revision of the Double Bass Syllabus. The ABRSM will post advance notice of planned changes to the Double Bass 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.