Blackbird's Song

Cyril ScottOp.52 No.3

ModernSpecialistromanceAndante6/8~4 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 8ABRSM 7

About this piece

Blackbird's Song is a lush, impressionistic work by Cyril Scott that evokes the English pastoral tradition. It is distinct for its complex, chromatic harmonic language woven into a gentle, flowing melodic line.

Teacher notes

Achieving the correct balance between the elaborate accompaniment and the singing melody is essential.

Technical focus

cantabilerubatopedalingvoicing

Mood

lyricalnostalgicatmospheric

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Blackbird's Song

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

Browse all Henle level 5 pieces (Late intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Blackbird's Song (Op.52 No.3) by Cyril Scott?

Blackbird's Song (Op.52 No.3) 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 Blackbird's Song?

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 Blackbird's Song?

A typical performance of Blackbird's Song (Op.52 No.3) lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Blackbird's Song?

Blackbird's Song (Op.52 No.3) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Blackbird's Song?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Autumn Idyll by Cyril Scott, Berceuse by Cyril Scott, Autumn Song by Cyril Scott — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.