This iconic Schubert song, frequently transcribed for piano, captures the tranquil beauty of singing while drifting on water. Its arpeggiated accompaniment perfectly mimics the gentle ripples and flow of the stream.
Achieve a transparent, shimmering texture with the arpeggios while the melody sings clearly above.
Auf dem Wasser zu singen(Op.72) (D.774) is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.
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.
A typical performance of Auf dem Wasser zu singen(Op.72) (D.774) lasts about 2 minutes.
Auf dem Wasser zu singen(Op.72) (D.774) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.