Capriccio brillant

Charles MayerOp.226

RomanticObscurecapriceE-flat majorAllegro vivace2/4~5 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 6

About this piece

Charles Mayer's Capriccio brillant is a showcase of mid-19th-century salon virtuosity. It features elegant melodic lines supported by rapid-fire accompaniment patterns.

Teacher notes

Maintain a light, floating touch in the right-hand passage work against a steady, supportive bass.

Technical focus

flowing-sixteenthsarpeggioscantabile

Mood

brilliantelegant

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Capriccio brillant

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

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Frequently asked questions

How hard is Capriccio brillant (Op.226) by Charles Mayer?

Capriccio brillant (Op.226) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play Capriccio brillant?

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 Capriccio brillant?

A typical performance of Capriccio brillant (Op.226) lasts about 5 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Capriccio brillant?

Capriccio brillant (Op.226) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Capriccio brillant?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include 'S Wonderful by George Gershwin, Bella Bocca by Emile Waldteufel, Bouquet-Quadrille by Johann Strauss Jr. — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.