Raff's second set of Fantasiestücke continues his exploration of lyrical and evocative piano writing. These pieces are known for their pleasing melodies and well-crafted harmonies, creating a romantic atmosphere.
Requires sensitive phrasing and a refined control of dynamics to convey emotional depth.
2 Fantasiestücke (Op.86) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of 2 Fantasiestücke (Op.86) lasts about 7 minutes.
2 Fantasiestücke (Op.86) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.