Bachianas Brasileiras No.3, W 388

Heitor Villa-Lobos

ModernKnownAllegro ma non tanto4/4~10 min
H5
Henle (estimated)

About this piece

The third movement of the Bachianas Brasileiras No. 3, often referred to as the 'Toccata', is a virtuosic piece for piano that synthesizes Brazilian folk melodies with Bach-inspired contrapuntal writing. It is known for its rapid figurations and demanding technical passages.

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Teacher notes

Developing evenness and clarity in extremely fast arpeggiated and scalar passages while maintaining rhythmic drive is the central technical challenge.

Technical focus

speed-agilityarpeggiosarticulationleft-hand-independence

Mood

brilliantenergeticpassionatepowerful

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Frequently asked questions

How hard is Bachianas Brasileiras No.3, W 388 by Heitor Villa-Lobos?

Bachianas Brasileiras No.3, W 388 is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7.

What level do I need to play Bachianas Brasileiras No.3, W 388?

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 Bachianas Brasileiras No.3, W 388?

A typical performance of Bachianas Brasileiras No.3, W 388 lasts about 10 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Bachianas Brasileiras No.3, W 388?

Bachianas Brasileiras No.3, W 388 is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.