Entrance examinations for organ and church music
The entrance examination consists of the following elements:
- Principal subject audition
- Secondary main subject test in theory *)
- Indicative voice audition after admission
- Supporting subject: aural studies/theory test
- Supporting subject: piano test
* The secondary main subject test in music theory consists of 4 part harmonization of a modulating choral melody in four phrases
Principal study
A list of repertoire for the entrance examination must be enclosed with the application form. The audition in the principal study consists of the following tests:
First test: self-chosen tasks, censor-chosen tasks and chorale
A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to:
- Buxtehude: Prelude, fugue and Ciacona in C major, BuxWV 137
- V. Lübeck: Prelude in E major
- J. S. Bach: Prelude and fugue in C major, BWV 545
- F. Mendelssohn: Sonata in C minor
- C. Franck: Prélude, fugue et variation
- P. Hindemith: Sonata II
- J. Langlais: from Hommage à Frescobaldi: Fantaisie or Thème et variations
A list of five shorter works from various stylistic periods (e.g. chorale with melismatic c.f., simpler trio movement). The external examiners select one piece of which the admission candidate is notified three weeks before the entrance examination.
A previously prepared chorale with pedal from 'Den Danske Koralbog' played with prelude and performed as:
- choral playing (one manual + pedal)
- melody playing (two manuals + pedal)
Second test: Set task
A proposed task which is emailed to the applicant seven days before the entrance examination takes place with a degree of difficulty similar to
- Franz Tunder: Prelude in G minor (Bechmann 2)
- Buxtehude: Ein feste Burg, BuxWV 184, or
- J. S. Bach: Prelude and fugue in E minor, BWV 533
Third test: Sight-reading
Sight-reading: An organ composition without pedal, and one of the more easy chorales with pedal
Prima vista harmonization: The applicant is given a 2-period chorale, the first period with 4-part harmonization, the second with melody alone, which must be harmonized on the spot (with pedal)
Assessment
Three separate marks are awarded according to the 7 point grading scale. One in each of the above-mentioned tests. The test will be passed successfully only if the applicant has achieved a minimum of 02 in the principal subject examination. If the applicant passes the principal study audition, they then take further examinations in supporting subjects. These examinations are identical for all Bachelor programmes.
The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study.
Repertoire requirements for the audition recording:
Duration: 15-20 minutes
A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to:
- Buxtehude: Prelude, fugue and Ciacona in C major, BuxWV 137
- V. Lübeck: Prelude in E major
- J. S. Bach: Prelude and fugue in C major, BWV 545
- F. Mendelssohn: Sonata in C minor
- C. Franck: Prélude, fugue et variation
- P. Hindemith: Sonata II
- J. Langlais: from Hommage à Frescobaldi: Fantaisie or Thème et variations
A previously prepared chorale with pedal from 'Den Danske Koralbog' played with prelude and performed as:
- choral playing (one manual + pedal)
- melody playing (two manuals + pedal)
The entrance examination consists of an audition in repertoire playing and liturgical playing.
Repertoire playing: The applicant should perform a programme of their own choice of 20 minutes duration.
Liturgical playing: The entrance examination in liturgical playing contains the following:
- one hymn with prelude and following modulation
- Transposition of hymn to a given key (½ a note or 1 note up or down from the original key and max. 4 key signatures.)
- Improvisation: Partita on a given hymn melody (approximately 5 minutes)
For the liturgical part of the examination, the applicant is given one-hour preparation.
The applicant is responsible for contacting the Academy for information concerning the technical specifications of the organ for the entrance examination (disposition etc.)
Duration of the entrance examination max. 30 minutes (40 minutes including assessment).
The entrance examination is censured by two internal examiners, and a grade is awarded according to the 7 point grading scale. The entrance examination can end with a five-minute conversation about the applicant's motivation for applying, career considerations, etc. The conversation does not affect the grade but is used for mutual matching of expectations about the education.
The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study.
Repertoire requirements for the audition recording:
Duration: 30 minutes
The entrance examination consists of an audition in repertoire playing and liturgical playing.
Repertoire playing: The applicant should perform a programme of his or her own choice of 20 minutes duration.
Liturgical playing: The entrance examination in liturgical playing contains the following:
- 1 hymn at your own choise with prelude and following modulation to G Major or A Major
- Transposition of the same hymn (½ a note or 1 note up or down from the original key and max. 4 key signatures.)
The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study.
Applicants should prepare a program of not more than 30 minutes, including a major work of J.S. Bach. Other works should be of contrasting styles and periods and should include at least one lyrical and one virtuosic selection.
The program should reflect the applicant’s breadth of knowledge of the organ repertoire and their highest technical and musical achievements. If the applicant is skilled in improvisation, a five-minute improvisation may be part of the program.
The applicant is responsible for contacting the Academy for information concerning the technical specifications of the organ for the entrance examination (disposition etc.)
Duration of the entrance examination max. 30 minutes (40 minutes including assessment).
The entrance examination is censured by two internal censors and a grade is awarded according to the 7 point grading scale. The entrance examination can end with a five-minute conversation about the applicant's motivation for applying, career considerations, etc.. The conversation does not affect the grade but is used for mutual matching of expectations about the education.
The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study.
Repertoire requirements for the audition recording:
Duration: 30 minutes
Applicants should prepare a program of not more than 30 minutes, including a major work of J.S. Bach. Other works should be of contrasting styles and periods and should include at least one lyrical and one virtuosic selection.
The program should reflect the applicant’s breadth of knowledge of the organ repertoire and their highest technical and musical achievements. If the applicant is skilled in improvisation, a five-minute improvisation may be part of the program.
Form, content, and assessment of the examination
The entrance examination consists of a principal study audition, which is taken in two rounds. If you apply for the specialisation Soloist Artistic Research or Soloist with teaching qualifications (advanced level), there will also be a third round in your chosen specialisation.
You can read about the different specialisations and the content of the entrance exams here.
1st round – Video
The 1st round consists of a video recording with a duration of 20 minutes, where you play your chosen repertoire for the 1st round. The video recording must be uploaded in the application form.
You find the repertoire requirements below.
If you pass the 1st round, you will continue to the 2nd round.
We will send you the result from the 1st round in an email in the middle of May.
The 1st round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner with pass/fail.
Requirements for the video recording
- The recording of the entire 1st round must be one-take. You are allowed to take a sip of water or a short break between the pieces – like you would do, if it had been a live entrance exam.
- The video recording must be unedited.
- The video recording must be a maximum of six months old.
- We encourage you to record works with an accompanist, if the piece normally is performed with accompaniment.
Recommendations for the video recording
- See the Academy's guide for the best sound on your recording.
2nd round – At RDAM
The 2nd round will be held at RDAM between mid-May and end-June. If you pass the 1st round, you will be summoned for the 2nd round.
From end-March, you can find a preliminary schedule of the dates for the 2nd round on the Academy website under “The entrance examinations schedule”.
In the 2nd round, you will be asked to perform a programme of 30 minutes' duration. Please find the repertoire requirements below.
The 2nd round ends with a five-minute conversation about the applicant's motivation for applying, career considerations, etc.. The conversation does not affect the grade but is used for mutual matching of expectations about the education.
The 2nd round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner according to the 7-point grading scale.
Repertoire
The applicant chooses the repertoire, always subject, however, to the following rules:
- Playing the same work at both rounds is not allowed.
- The works performed in the two rounds must together cover at least 4 stylistic periods.
- At least one work at one of the two rounds must be written after 1945.
Examples of the type and degree of repertoire:
- A major work from the organ literature before J.S. Bach
- J.S. Bach: a major prelude (toccata, fantasia) with fugue, or passacaglia and fugue in C minor, BWV 582
- J.S. Bach: a trio sonata for organ
- A major romantic work for organ (e.g. J.P.E. Hartmann, F. Mendelssohn, C. Franck, or M. Reger)
- A major work by a recent or contemporary composer