Cardosina

Ernesto Nazareth

RomanticSpecialistwaltzC majorTango2/4~3.5 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 5

About this piece

Cardosina is a charming tango by the Brazilian master Ernesto Nazareth. It is distinctive for its fusion of European dance rhythms with the syncopated 'maxixe' style native to Brazil.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge is maintaining a consistent, relaxed syncopated rhythm in the left hand against the melodic phrasing.

Technical focus

left-hand-independencearticulationwaltz-rhythm

Mood

elegantplayfulnostalgic

Listen & watch

No video available for this piece.

Your status

Not in your repertoire

Sign in to track this piece

Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Cardosina

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Cardosina by Ernesto Nazareth?

Cardosina 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 Cardosina?

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 Cardosina?

A typical performance of Cardosina lasts about 3.5 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Cardosina?

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

What pieces are similar to Cardosina?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Beija-flor by Ernesto Nazareth, Beija-flor, IEN 4 by Ernesto Nazareth, Arreliado by Ernesto Nazareth — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.