Alexandra

Brinley Richards

RomanticObscureromanceE-flat majorModerato4/4~4 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 4

About this piece

Brinley Richards was a prolific Victorian composer known for his drawing-room piano pieces. This work features decorative figurations typical of mid-19th-century parlor music.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge lies in executing the ornamental runs with rhythmic clarity against the underlying harmonic structure.

Technical focus

cantabilearpeggiosornamentationpedaling

Mood

elegantnostalgic

Listen & watch

No video available for this piece.

Your status

Not in your repertoire

Sign in to track this piece

Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Alexandra

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Alexandra by Brinley Richards?

Alexandra is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.

What level do I need to play Alexandra?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 4 — meaning you can already play level 3–4 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Alexandra?

A typical performance of Alexandra lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Alexandra?

Alexandra is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Alexandra?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include 'The Sorcerer' Fantasia by Brinley Richards, Alexandra by Brinley Richards, Waltz No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.