Barafostus Dreame, MB 62

Thomas Tomkins

BaroqueSpecialisttheme-and-variationsC majorModerato4/4~4 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 6

About this piece

Barafostus Dreame is a famous Elizabethan keyboard variation set found in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. It is distinguished by its intricate decorative patterns and the idiomatic writing style characteristic of the English Virginalist school.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge lies in executing the dense Elizabethan-style ornamentation cleanly while maintaining a consistent pulse.

Technical focus

counterpointornamentationfinger-independencearticulation

Mood

contemplativenarrative

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Barafostus Dreame, MB 62

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Frequently asked questions

How hard is Barafostus Dreame, MB 62 by Thomas Tomkins?

Barafostus Dreame, MB 62 is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play Barafostus Dreame, MB 62?

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 Barafostus Dreame, MB 62?

A typical performance of Barafostus Dreame, MB 62 lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Barafostus Dreame, MB 62?

Barafostus Dreame, MB 62 is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Barafostus Dreame, MB 62?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Barafostus Dreame by Thomas Tomkins, Barafostus Dreame by Anonymous, Barcarolle by Mykola Lysenko — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.