Bill's Asthma

Reeves Hansford

ModernObscureromance
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 5

About this piece

This is a contemporary character piece that functions like a modern short nocturne or lyrical reflection. It relies on minimalist textures and expressive, slow-moving melodic lines.

Teacher notes

Achieving an intimate, 'breathless' quality through the use of sensitive rubato is the main performance challenge.

Technical focus

rubatocantabilevoicing

Mood

melancholicintimate

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Bill's Asthma

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Bill's Asthma by Reeves Hansford?

Bill's Asthma 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 Bill's Asthma?

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.

Where can I get free sheet music for Bill's Asthma?

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

What pieces are similar to Bill's Asthma?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Body and Soul by Johnny Green, Fantasy in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Prelude in E minor, No. 4 by Frédéric Chopin — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.