Belle of the Ball

Leroy Anderson

ModernFamouswaltzA-flat majorTempo di Valse3/4~3 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 5

About this piece

This is one of Leroy Anderson's most famous light concert works, originally written for orchestra and arranged for piano. It is musically distinctive for its lush harmonies and soaring, nostalgic melodic writing.

Teacher notes

The main technical challenge is balancing the lyrical voicing in the right hand against the flowing waltz accompaniment.

Technical focus

waltz-rhythmcantabilerubatovoicing

Mood

elegantnostalgiclyrical

Listen & watch

Your status

Not in your repertoire

Sign in to track this piece

Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Belle of the Ball

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Belle of the Ball by Leroy Anderson?

Belle of the Ball 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 Belle of the Ball?

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 Belle of the Ball?

A typical performance of Belle of the Ball lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Belle of the Ball?

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

What pieces are similar to Belle of the Ball?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Blue Tango by Leroy Anderson, American Beauty by Joseph Francis Lamb, Allegretto and Mazurka by Frédéric Chopin — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.