Ali

Aleksandr LevinOp.17

ModernObscurepreludeModerato4/4~3 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 6

About this piece

Levin's Op. 17 'Ali' is a modern character piece that experiments with shifting harmonies and rhythmic tension. It offers a sophisticated texture that moves between dissonant pulses and sudden lyrical outbursts.

Teacher notes

Master the rhythmic stability of the underlying pulse while layering the melodic phrasing on top with independent voicing.

Technical focus

dramatic-contrastvoicingleft-hand-independencearticulation

Mood

mysteriousdramatic

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Ali

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

Browse all Henle level 5 pieces (Late intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Ali (Op.17) by Aleksandr Levin?

Ali (Op.17) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 6.

What level do I need to play Ali?

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.

How long is Ali?

A typical performance of Ali (Op.17) lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Ali?

Ali (Op.17) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Ali?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include 'The King of the Jews' - Incidental Music by Alexander Glazunov, Bal Masqué by Kees Schoonenbeek, An Allegory by Leo Ornstein — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.