This virtuosic piece by Hubert Bauersachs leans into the 'diabolical' aesthetic prevalent in late 19th-century piano music. It utilizes sudden shifts in dynamics and register to evoke a dark, narrative intensity.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: sharp dynamic and character contrasts held together in one arc; fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; and big chords that need weight without harshness.
Achieving the required dramatic contrast requires significant hand agility and strong control over loud, full-voiced chords.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.
Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.
Lesser-known works by the same hand, at a comparable level.
Desiderio del demonio is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of Desiderio del demonio lasts about 5 minutes.
Desiderio del demonio is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Der Galgenritt by Paul Hindemith, Danse Diabolique by Joseph Hellmesberger Jr., Bolero, AK 63 by Nikos Skalkottas — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.