Borry

Henry Purcell

BaroqueSpecialistsuiteC major3/4~1 min
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 3ABRSM 3

About this piece

Borry (or Bourrée) is a stylized 17th-century French dance movement by Purcell, often appearing in keyboard suites of the period. It features a bright, duple-meter feel despite the 3/4 notation, showcasing the characteristic ornamentation of English Baroque music.

Teacher notes

Maintain a steady pulse while executing clean non-legato articulation characteristic of the Baroque style.

Technical focus

counterpointarticulationfinger-independence

Mood

elegantplayful

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Borry

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

Browse all Henle level 3 pieces (Late beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Borry by Henry Purcell?

Borry is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 3.

What level do I need to play Borry?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 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 Borry?

A typical performance of Borry lasts about 1 minute.

Where can I get free sheet music for Borry?

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

What pieces are similar to Borry?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include The Entertainer by Scott Joplin, Bach-bwv-anh-114 by Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach-anh-114 by Johann Sebastian Bach — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.