Beschwörung

Carl GoldmarkOp.20

RomanticSpecialistfantasyC-sharp minorAdagio4/4~5 min
H6
Henle (estimated)
RCM 8ABRSM 8

About this piece

A work of intense emotional scope, this piece demonstrates Goldmark's mastery of the dense, orchestral piano style prevalent in the late Romantic era. It is uniquely characterized by its sweeping harmonic shifts and dramatic, narrative structure.

Teacher notes

Developing the stamina and control required for the thick chordal textures is the main technical hurdle.

Technical focus

dramatic-contrastvoicinglarge-chordscantabile

Mood

dramaticmysteriouspassionate

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Beschwörung

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

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Frequently asked questions

How hard is Beschwörung (Op.20) by Carl Goldmark?

Beschwörung (Op.20) is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.

What level do I need to play Beschwörung?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 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 Beschwörung?

A typical performance of Beschwörung (Op.20) lasts about 5 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Beschwörung?

Beschwörung (Op.20) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Beschwörung?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Allegro de concert by Aleksandr Scriabin, 'Das Geisterschiff' by Carl Tausig, Ballad No.2 by Issay Dobrowen — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.