At Trinity College London, we’re proud to offer woodwind candidates a wide range of repertoire choices for their graded exams. In the first in our series on selecting pieces for Trinity Woodwind exams, we focus on the requirements for Flute and Recorder, guiding you through what’s required at each level — for both face-to-face and digital exams — so you’ll know exactly what you need to prepare and perform with confidence.
Exam level and format
Before we get started, it's important to note that there are differences in requirements between face-to-face and the two different types of digital exams available: Technical pathway and Repertoire-only pathway. The requirements/assessed areas for each of these exams are as follows:
Face-to-face
- 3 pieces
- Technical work
- Supporting tests
Digital: Technical pathway
- 3 pieces
- Technical work selection
- Overall performance
Digital: Repertoire-only pathway
Common requirements across all Flute and Recorder exams
Pieces are divided into two groups: Group A and Group B. Group A pieces are accompanied, whereas Group B pieces must be performed unaccompanied.
Candidates choose three pieces - four for Repertoire-only pathway exams – including at least two pieces from Group A and one from Group B.
For all exams, one piece performed may be an own composition. However, where an accompanied own composition is performed, this must replace a Group A piece. Similarly, an unaccompanied own composition must replace the Group B piece. Any accompaniments should not be overly supportive of the candidate's part, so that an assessment can be made. Please refer to the Woodwind syllabus for the parameters for writing your own composition.
Repertoire lists
Full repertoire lists for the instruments covered in this blog can be found below:
Flute
Initial
Only one duet is permitted.
Example piece selection: Initial Grade, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- In the Presence Of The King by Degg – Group A - duet
- Summer Warmth by Charlesworth – Group A
- Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music) by Rodgers, arr. Goodwin – Group B
Example piece selection: Initial Grade, Repertoire-only pathway
- Minsheelala (Happy Song) by Tagoe – Group A
- Diplodocus Chew by Booth – Group A
- Variations On A Cajun Folk Song by Hilliard – Group A
- The Howling Wind by Gregory – Group B
Grade 1 – Grade 3
Only one duet is permitted.
One of the pieces performed may be exchanged for another from the same group on the corresponding Jazz Flute repertoire list.
Example piece selection: Grade 1, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- The Elephant (from Carnival of the Animals) by Saint-Saëns, arr. Harris & Adams – Group A
- Chill! By Rae – Group A Grade 1 Jazz Flute
- Blue Sky Blue by Watts – Group B
Example piece selection: Grade 3, Repertoire-only pathway
- A Whole New World (from Aladdin) by Menken – Group A
- Stars, No Moon Trad. arr. Harrison – Group A – duet
- Minor Song by Williams – Group B
- Module 3: B by J Wilson – Group B Grade 3 Jazz Flute
Grade 4 – Grade 5
One of the pieces performed may be exchanged for another from the same group on the corresponding Jazz Flute repertoire list.
Example piece selection: Grade 4, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- The Dance of the Little Swans (from Swan Lake) by Tchaikovsky, arr. Carson Turner – Group A
- Rondeau (from Suite in B minor, BWV 1067) by J S Bach – Group A
- Passion Fruit Samba by Nightingale – Grade 4 Jazz Flute Group B
Example piece selection: Grade 5, Repertoire-only pathway
- ‘S Wonderful by Gershwin, arr. Holcombe – Group A Grade 5 Jazz Flute
- I Feel Pretty (from West Side Story) by Bernstein – Group A
- Gavotte or What? By Mower – Group A
- Gavotte Spot by Mower – Group B
Grade 6 - Grade 8
Where piccolo and alto flute items are offered, only one may be chosen to be performed.
One of the pieces performed may be exchanged for another from the same group on the corresponding Jazz Flute repertoire list.
Example piece selection: Grade 6, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Après un rêve by Fauré, arr. Rainford – Group A – alto flute only
- The Girl from Ipanema by Jobim arr. Gout – Group A Grade 6 Jazz Flute
- The Dance of the Insects (from 25 Romantic Studies in Modern Style, op. 66) by Köhler – Group B
Example piece selection: Grade 8, Repertoire-only pathway
- Autumn Leaves* by Aebersold (arr.) – Group A Grade 8 Jazz Flute
- March of the Bluebirds by Janáček – Group A – piccolo only
- Credoscapes I by Ndodana-Breen – Group B
- Molto marcato e energico by Piazzolla – Group B
*piece includes improvisation
Recorder
At all grades, one piece only may be played on tenor, sopranino or bass recorder.
Initial – Grade 3
Only one duet is permitted.
Candidates may play either descant or treble recorder, or a combination of the two.
Example piece selection: Initial Grade, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Eastenders by Osborne & May, arr. Lawrence – Group A – duet
- Bransle des chevaux by Arbeau, arr. Proctor – Group A
- Study no. 8 by Feltkamp – Group B
Example piece selection: Grade 2, Repertoire-only pathway
- Blues for Sam by Gale – Group A (descant recorder) – duet
- Gavotta (from op. 1 no. 2) by Loeillet de Gant – Group A (treble recorder)
- Giga (from Sonata de Camera in F) by Thornowitz – Group A (treble recorder)
- General Wolfe’s March (from His Book for the Fife) by Gibbs, Jr – Group B (descant recorder)
Grade 4 – Grade 5
Candidates may play either descant or treble recorder, or a combination of the two.
Example piece selection: Grade 4, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Andantino by Cherubini – Group A (descant)
- A Lieta Vita by Gastoldi – Group A (descant)
- Gumston’s Gigue by Clark – Group B (descant)
Example piece selection: Grade 5, Repertoire-only pathway
- Mesmeralda by Constable – Group A (descant)
- Allegro (from Sonata in E minor, op. 2 no. 4) by Marcello – Group A (treble)
- Allegro (3rd movt from Fantasia no. 11 in Bb) by Telemann – Group B (treble)
- Dendrocopus Major (Greater Spotted Woodpecker) by Davis – Group B (treble)
Grade 6 – Grade 8
Both descant and tenor recorders must be played.
Example piece selection: Grade 7, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Mexican Hat Dance by Bullard – Group A (descant)
- The Serpent and A Little Temptation by Marshall – Group A (treble) – must be played on both treble and sopranino
- Soterot by Marcussen – Group B (descant)
Example piece selection: Grade 8, Repertoire-only pathway
- Bossa Nova by Golland – Group A (descant)
- Allegro (1st movt from Concerto in F) by Sammartini – Group A (descant)
- The Zoo followed by The Jungle (complete) (3rd and 1st movts from Big Baboon) by Leenhouts – Group B (descant) – must be played on tenor recorder
- 2nd movt (from Chocolate Bulbul) by Thorn – Group B (treble)
We hope this information helps you make your pieces selections for your exam. Keep your eyes peeled for future blog posts where we will provide guidance on selecting pieces for Clarinet and Saxophone, Oboe and Bassoon, and Jazz Woodwind exams.
Comments & Replies