Dance of the Ghosts

Aleksey Afromeyev

RomanticObscureromanceD minorModerato3/4~3 min

About this piece

This is an alternative attribution for the same atmospheric work by the Russian composer Afromeev. It is notable for its exploration of harmonic tension within a traditional ternary structure.

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: careful pedaling — clarity depends on the foot as much as the fingers; a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; and chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others.

Teacher notes

Focus on the expressive shaping of the phrases to maintain interest throughout the harmonic sequences.

Technical focus

pedalingcantabilevoicing

Mood

mysteriouscontemplative

Listen & watch

No video available for this piece.
Too hard right now? Build a path to it

Your status

Not in your repertoire

Sign in to track this piece

Free sheet music on IMSLP

What to play around Dance of the Ghosts

Similar to Dance of the Ghosts

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 Ghosts by Aleksey Afromeyev?

Dance of the Ghosts 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.

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

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 Ghosts?

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

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

Dance of the Ghosts 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 Ghosts?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie, Gymnopédie No. 3 by Erik Satie, Gnossienne No. 1 by Erik Satie — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.