Barkarola

Stanisław Moniuszko

RomanticObscurebarcarolleAndantino6/8~4 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 5

About this piece

Moniuszko’s Barcarola is a lyrical salon piece typical of 19th-century Polish Romanticism. It captures the undulating movement of a boat through a gentle, persistent compound meter.

Teacher notes

The main challenge is balancing the lyrical melody against the swaying accompanimental figuration.

Technical focus

cantabilepedalingrubato

Mood

lyricalmelancholic

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Barkarola

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Barkarola by Stanisław Moniuszko?

Barkarola 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 Barkarola?

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 Barkarola?

A typical performance of Barkarola lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Barkarola?

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

What pieces are similar to Barkarola?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Bajka by Stanisław Moniuszko, Barcarolle by Anton Stepanovich Arensky, Albumblatt in A minor by Johannes Brahms — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.