Berceuse

Louis Dumas

RomanticObscureberceuseModerato6/8~3 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 5

About this piece

Louis Dumas’s Berceuse is a character piece that leans heavily on sentimental melodic writing supported by a standard triple-meter lullaby pattern. It is a modest, effective example of its period's salon aesthetic.

Teacher notes

Focus on the nuance of the phrasing to prevent the repetitive pattern from sounding overly mechanical.

Technical focus

cantabilepedalingrubato

Mood

lyricalnostalgictender

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Berceuse

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Berceuse by Louis Dumas?

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

What level do I need to play Berceuse?

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 Berceuse?

A typical performance of Berceuse lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Berceuse?

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

What pieces are similar to Berceuse?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré, M.74 by Maurice Ravel, Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré by Maurice Ravel, Berceuse by Rudolf Friml — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.