Mozart's variations on 'Lison Dormait' are a charming and virtuosic exploration of a simple French folk tune. They are known for their wit, inventiveness, and demanding technical passages, showcasing the piano's capabilities.
Requires a light touch and precise fingerwork, especially in the rapid scales and arpeggiated figures, along with careful attention to dynamic shading.
9 Variations on 'Lison Dormait' (K.264) is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 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 9 Variations on 'Lison Dormait' (K.264) lasts about 15 minutes.
9 Variations on 'Lison Dormait' (K.264) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.