I have a boy aged 12-13 who will be taking Grade 5 in April (Standard Visit); hopefully his treble voice will last.

He was going to sing A9 Where're you walk but mummy has said that this is not his cup of tea. She is OK with B5 Simple Gifts and C29 Linden Lea.

Setting aside the issue of whether or not I should resist mummy's opinion I am now looking for another A song for him.

Does anybody know the A1 arr. Jay Althouse Shenandoah in Folk Songs for Solo singers? ABRSM say it has to be this version (I have phoned) but the book costs ?12.50 and if I don't like it that's money wasted, although there is another A song in there. The Helmholtz range notation seems rather odd to me [a typo perhaps] in the syllabus but I think one is allowed to transpose the music to a key which suits the voice (according to page 6 of the syllabus).

If I cannot find a sing to suit him he will do A9 because I think it suits his voice. Mummy is concerned about the ornaments in the reprise of the first section. Is it necessary to add the ornaments/variations at Grade 5? - he has been using the ABRSM Songbook.

The arrangement of Shenandoah in List A is lovely...well, I think it is. If my memory serves me correctly (I'll check in the morning) I've got it in C which means it starts on the G below middle C or optionally the G above (I might have the low version of the book though) It goes up to the C above...I think. You can transpose it into any key you like. I have no idea whether your pupil would like it though, and I wouldn't want to be held responsible for you wasting your money on the book That series does have some lovely arrangements.

The version of Where're You Walk I have is a single sheet and I've never bought any of the ABRSM Songbooks. I'm not sure therefore what ornaments yours has. The version I've got doesn't have any, and the repeat of the first section is the same (no doubt, more advanced singers would embelish it). If the syllabus doesn't state you have to use that arrangement, I don't see why you couldn't leave out the ornaments - certainly for piano, it's always left up to the player.

I also think this arrangement of Shenandoah is lovely. I have both books (volumes 1 and 2) in both keys and use them a lot - not just for grades, but for festivals, etc. The Medium High version starts in D and modulates to G, whereas the Medium Low version is C to F. Where'er you walk in the old version of the ABRSM songbook does not have any ornaments, but I write my own and I have no idea whether the examiner is expecting them or not, but I would expect a competant grade 5 pupil to do them. Likewise for Art thou troubled?

Having looked at mine, I think what we're referring to as 'ornaments', are probably written out, so I've never thought of them as 'ornaments', but I see now

I guess I should have said decorations.

Very useful help from all - I have ordered the book.