Berceuse No.1

Raoul Ordinaire

RomanticObscureberceuseG majorAdagio6/8~3 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 5

About this piece

Raoul Ordinaire’s Berceuse is an elegant composition typical of late Romantic French salon style. Its distinct character comes from the interplay between a poignant melody and a steady, rhythmic bass.

Teacher notes

The main challenge is balancing the weight of the left-hand chords against the delicate right-hand phrasing.

Technical focus

cantabilerubatopedalingvoicing

Mood

intimatenostalgicgentle

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Berceuse No.1

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 No.1 by Raoul Ordinaire?

Berceuse No.1 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 No.1?

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 No.1?

A typical performance of Berceuse No.1 lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Berceuse No.1?

Berceuse 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 Berceuse No.1?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Albumblatt by Václav Suk, An old miniature by William Baines, Berceuse by Arthur Norton Wight — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.