Boëllmann's second waltz is a charming, salon-style work characteristic of late 19th-century French piano music. It is distinct for its balanced phrasing and graceful, flowing melodic lines that invite expressive playing.
At Henle 4 this is an intermediate piece that expects secure technique and real attention to phrasing. The main demands: a waltz lilt that needs charm and a flexible left hand; rubato that must breathe naturally without losing the pulse; and a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment.
Beyond that, expect a left hand with real melodic or rhythmic responsibility of its own.
Focus on achieving a smooth, lilted waltz rhythm without letting the tempo drag during the lyrical passages.
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.
Deuxième valse pour piano (Op.14) is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 6.
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.
A typical performance of Deuxième valse pour piano (Op.14) lasts about 4 minutes.
Deuxième valse pour piano (Op.14) 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 Deuxième valse by Léon Boëllmann, Berceuse by Léon Boëllmann, Arabesque No. 1 by Claude Debussy — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.