An evening on the Hudson - Serenade

Leopold de MeyerOp.183

RomanticObscureromanceA-flat majorModerato4/4~6 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 6

About this piece

Leopold de Meyer was known as the 'Pianiste de SM l'Empereur' and composed this work to evoke the scenic beauty of the Hudson River during the evening. It is a quintessential piece of 19th-century descriptive music, focusing on atmospheric harmonic colors.

Teacher notes

Developing a deep, singing tone is essential, as the piece requires constant layering of voices to create an evocative, nocturnal texture.

Technical focus

cantabilevoicingpedalingrubato

Mood

atmosphericintimatenarrative

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to An evening on the Hudson - Serenade

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 An evening on the Hudson - Serenade (Op.183) by Leopold de Meyer?

An evening on the Hudson - Serenade (Op.183) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play An evening on the Hudson - Serenade?

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 An evening on the Hudson - Serenade?

A typical performance of An evening on the Hudson - Serenade (Op.183) lasts about 6 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for An evening on the Hudson - Serenade?

An evening on the Hudson - Serenade (Op.183) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to An evening on the Hudson - Serenade?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Piano Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight', No. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Berceuse Op.57 by Frederic Chopin, Berceuse héroïque by Claude Debussy — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.