Canto de amor

Joaquín Malats

RomanticObscureromanceA-flat majorAndante3/4~4 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 8ABRSM 7

About this piece

A virtuosic salon piece by the Spanish pianist Joaquín Malats, known for its brilliant melodic ornamentation. It represents the quintessential late-Romantic Spanish style of the early 20th century.

Teacher notes

The piece requires a refined sense of ornamentation and a seamless legato for the high-register melodic lines.

Technical focus

cantabilevoicingrubatoarpeggios

Mood

passionatelyricalelegant

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Canto de amor

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Browse all Henle level 5 pieces (Late intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Canto de amor by Joaquín Malats?

Canto de amor 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 Canto de amor?

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 Canto de amor?

A typical performance of Canto de amor lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Canto de amor?

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

What pieces are similar to Canto de amor?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include 16 Waltzes by Johannes Brahms, 'Casta diva che inargenti' in 'Norma' by Adolfo Fumagalli, Ballade Caprice No.2 by Ignace Xavier Joseph Leybach — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.