Question 1

How hard is Cradle Song by Ethelbert Nevin?

Accepted Answer

Cradle Song is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 4.

Question 2

What level do I need to play Cradle Song?

Accepted Answer

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

Question 3

How long is Cradle Song?

Accepted Answer

A typical performance of Cradle Song lasts about 3 minutes.

Question 4

Where can I get free sheet music for Cradle Song?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

What pieces are similar to Cradle Song?

Accepted Answer

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include At Bedtime, TH 70 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Cradle Song by Homer Newton Bartlett, Albumsblad, HW 49 by Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.