Alferne

Joseph LabitzkyOp.86

RomanticObscurewaltzF majorAllegretto3/4~4 min
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 4ABRSM 4

About this piece

Joseph Labitzky's Alferne (Elves) is a light salon piece depicting fairy-like movements through rapid, crisp articulation. It demonstrates the composer's skill in creating accessible yet evocative character pieces for the amateur domestic market.

Teacher notes

Control the light, detached finger-work required to convey the 'elven' character of the piece.

Technical focus

waltz-rhythmarticulationfinger-independence

Mood

playfulelegant

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Alferne

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

Browse all Henle level 3 pieces (Late beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Alferne (Op.86) by Joseph Labitzky?

Alferne (Op.86) is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 4.

What level do I need to play Alferne?

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.

How long is Alferne?

A typical performance of Alferne (Op.86) lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Alferne?

Alferne (Op.86) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Alferne?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Alexandrinen-Walzer by Joseph Labitzky, Californier-Galopp by Joseph Labitzky, The Entertainer by Scott Joplin — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.