A work by the Polish virtuoso Szymanowska, showcasing her command of both brilliant and song-like styles. Its distinction lies in the sophisticated melodic writing that bridges the gap between Mozart and the nascent Romantic style.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. The main demands: a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in; and continuous sixteenth-note figuration that must ripple, not chatter.
Beyond that, expect precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece.
Ensure the cantabile melody remains sustained and expressive over the lighter accompaniment.
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.
Divertissement in B-flat major is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 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 Divertissement in B-flat major lasts about 6 minutes.
Divertissement in B-flat major 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 Depature by Maria Agata Szymanowska, Black Beauty by Duke Ellington, Andante favori by Ludwig van Beethoven — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.