Canon

Aleksey Stanchinsky

ModernSpecialistAndante~3 min
H6
Henle (estimated)
RCM 9ABRSM 7

About this piece

Stanchinsky is known for his unique, highly personal language that sits between Scriabin and traditional Russian romanticism. This canon is technically demanding due to its complex inner voicing and irregular, modern harmonic progressions.

Teacher notes

Achieving the required rubato while maintaining strict control of the contrapuntal lines is the major hurdle.

Technical focus

counterpointfinger-independencerubatovoicing

Mood

contemplativemysteriousmelancholic

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Canon

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

Browse all Henle level 6 pieces (Advanced) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Canon by Aleksey Stanchinsky?

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

What level do I need to play Canon?

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 Canon?

A typical performance of Canon lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Canon?

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

What pieces are similar to Canon?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Canon in B minor by Aleksey Stanchinsky, Canon a 2 voix en augmentation by Aleksey Stanchinsky, Berceuse élégiaque, BV 252a by Ferruccio Busoni — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.