Altiva

Aurélio CavalcantiOp. 149

RomanticObscurewaltzTempo di Valse3/4~4 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 5

About this piece

A late-Romantic waltz composed by a Brazilian contemporary of the period. It utilizes standard salon-style chordal accompaniments and melodic ornamentation.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge is balancing the bass accompaniment with the expressive, swaying melodic line.

Technical focus

waltz-rhythmrubatovoicingcantabile

Mood

eleganttender

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Altiva

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Altiva (Op. 149) by Aurélio Cavalcanti?

Altiva (Op. 149) 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 Altiva?

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 Altiva?

A typical performance of Altiva (Op. 149) lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Altiva?

Altiva (Op. 149) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Altiva?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Bohême by Aurélio Cavalcanti, Buenos dias by Aurélio Cavalcanti, Arrependida by Aurélio Cavalcanti — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.