Anger Motive

Edward Kilenyi

RomanticObscureromanceC minorAgitato4/4~3 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 6

About this piece

This piece by the noted pedagogue Edward Kilenyi reflects the late Romantic obsession with motivic development and emotional intensity. It effectively uses diminished harmonies to suggest a sense of urgency.

Teacher notes

Manage the voicing between the intense bass lines and the melodic material to ensure clarity.

Technical focus

dramatic-contrastvoicingleft-hand-independence

Mood

dramaticpassionate

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Anger Motive

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 Anger Motive by Edward Kilenyi?

Anger Motive 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 Anger Motive?

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 Anger Motive?

A typical performance of Anger Motive lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Anger Motive?

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

What pieces are similar to Anger Motive?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Piano Sonata No. 8 'Pathétique' by Ludwig van Beethoven, Balada mexicana by Manuel Ponce, Allegro Appassionato by Alexander Scriabin — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.