Barcarole

Erkki MelartinOp.59 No.1

RomanticObscurebarcarolleF-sharp majorAndantino6/8~4 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 6

About this piece

This Barcarole by the Finnish composer Erkki Melartin captures the typical swaying rhythmic motion of Venetian boat songs within a Nordic Romantic harmonic language. It is distinguished by its expressive, song-like melodies and lush, mid-range textures.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge is maintaining a consistent, liquid rhythmic pulse while shaping the lyrical phrases with subtle rubato.

Technical focus

cantabilerubatovoicingpedalingleft-hand-independence

Mood

lyricalnostalgicgentle

Listen & watch

No video available for this piece.

Your status

Not in your repertoire

Sign in to track this piece

Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Barcarole

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 Barcarole (Op.59 No.1) by Erkki Melartin?

Barcarole (Op.59 No.1) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play Barcarole?

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 Barcarole?

A typical performance of Barcarole (Op.59 No.1) lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Barcarole?

Barcarole (Op.59 No.1) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Barcarole?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Berceuse by Erkki Melartin, Nocturne in B major, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin, Barcarole No.3; Op.50 No.3 by Anton Rubinstein — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.