Dance of the Dragons

William Conrad Polla

RomanticObscurecapriceC majorAllegro2/4~3 min

About this piece

This is a characteristic parlor piece from the late 19th century intended for salon performance. It is distinguished by its light, programmatic nature and idiomatic use of early pedagogical keyboard writing.

What makes it challenging

At Henle 3 this is a late-beginner piece — comfortable hands-together playing is assumed, and musical shaping starts to matter. The main demands: fine finger independence within the hand; precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece; and fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo.

Teacher notes

Maintain consistent articulation in the right-hand passage work while keeping the left-hand accompaniment steady.

Technical focus

finger-independencearticulationspeed-agility

Mood

playfulenergetic

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

What to play around Dance of the Dragons

Similar to Dance of the Dragons

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

Easier, same character

A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.

The next step up

Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.

Browse all Henle level 3 pieces (Late beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Dance of the Dragons by William Conrad Polla?

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

What level do I need to play Dance of the Dragons?

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.

How long is Dance of the Dragons?

A typical performance of Dance of the Dragons lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Dance of the Dragons?

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

What pieces are similar to Dance of the Dragons?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Clover Leaf Rag by William Conrad Polla, Black Sheep by William Conrad Polla, Curly by William Conrad Polla — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.