This is a contemporary pedagogical fugue written with clear, neo-classical lines. It serves as a modern exploration of the traditional double fugue form.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. The main demands: independent voices that must each sing on their own line; fine finger independence within the hand; and precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece.
Beyond that, expect fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo.
Focus on the independence of the two hands, ensuring the two subjects remain distinct during their entries.
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.
Double Fugue in C 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 Double Fugue in C major lasts about 3 minutes.
Double Fugue in C 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 Bóg się rodzi alla bolero by Jakub Kowalewski, Keyboard Sonata in D minor by Domenico Scarlatti, Partita No. 1 in B-flat major by Johann Sebastian Bach — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.