Banjo

Maurice Strakosch

RomanticObscurecapriceC majorAllegretto2/4~2 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 5

About this piece

This is a brief, lighter salon work intended to capture the popular banjo craze of the mid-19th century. It features repetitive rhythmic patterns that emulate banjo strumming techniques on the keyboard.

Teacher notes

Focus on precise staccato and consistent finger strength for the repeated thematic notes.

Technical focus

articulationrepeated-notesfinger-independence

Mood

playfulenergetic

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Banjo

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Banjo by Maurice Strakosch?

Banjo is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 6.

What level do I need to play Banjo?

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 Banjo?

A typical performance of Banjo lasts about 2 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Banjo?

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

What pieces are similar to Banjo?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Banjo, Capriccio Characterisque by Maurice Strakosch, California Gold Fever Galop by Maurice Strakosch, 12 Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je, Maman" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.