Barcarolle

Sydney SmithOp.88

RomanticObscurebarcarolleA-flat majorAndante6/8~4 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 5

About this piece

This piece is a standard 19th-century salon work characterized by the signature gently rocking compound meter of the barcarolle genre. It emphasizes a singing melodic line over broken-chord accompaniment typical of Sydney Smith's idiomatic piano writing.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge is maintaining a fluid, balanced tone while managing the left-hand broken chord patterns.

Technical focus

cantabilearpeggiosrubatovoicing

Mood

lyricalnostalgicgentle

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Barcarolle

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Barcarolle (Op.88) by Sydney Smith?

Barcarolle (Op.88) 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 Barcarolle?

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 Barcarolle?

A typical performance of Barcarolle (Op.88) lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Barcarolle?

Barcarolle (Op.88) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Barcarolle?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Bohemian Girl - Second Fantasia by Sydney Smith, Bergerette. Danse gracieuse. by Sydney Smith, Bergerette by Sydney Smith — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.