Bergfahrt

Philipp ScharwenkaOp.36

RomanticObscurerhapsodyC minorAllegro agitato4/4~5 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 8ABRSM 7

About this piece

Philipp Scharwenka's Bergfahrt captures the intense, craggy nature of a mountain journey. It is characterized by thick, post-Lisztian harmonic writing and demanding, percussive chordal passages.

Teacher notes

The technical challenge lies in the execution of large, powerful chords with sustained intensity.

Technical focus

dramatic-contrastlarge-chordsspeed-agility

Mood

dramaticpowerful

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Bergfahrt

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Browse all Henle level 5 pieces (Late intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Bergfahrt (Op.36) by Philipp Scharwenka?

Bergfahrt (Op.36) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.

What level do I need to play Bergfahrt?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 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 Bergfahrt?

A typical performance of Bergfahrt (Op.36) lasts about 5 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Bergfahrt?

Bergfahrt (Op.36) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Bergfahrt?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Passacaglia by George Frideric Handel, Ballade by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, 'The King of the Jews' - Incidental Music by Alexander Glazunov — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.