Canonnade

Claude-Bénigne Balbastre

BaroqueSpecialisttoccataC majorAllegro2/4~3 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 5

About this piece

Balbastre was a celebrated French keyboardist, and this piece displays the characteristically nimble, light-textured style of the French late Baroque. It is a vibrant, rhythmic work emphasizing motoric energy.

Teacher notes

Maintain a crisp, detached articulation throughout to keep the rapid sixteenth notes from blurring.

Technical focus

counterpointfinger-independencearticulationflowing-sixteenths

Mood

energeticbrilliantplayful

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

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Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Canonnade by Claude-Bénigne Balbastre?

Canonnade 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 Canonnade?

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.

How long is Canonnade?

A typical performance of Canonnade lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Canonnade?

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

What pieces are similar to Canonnade?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Alexander's Ragtime Band by Irving Berlin, Canto del guajiro by Ernesto Lecuona, Black and White Rag by George Botsford — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.