This second Elegie, composed later, serves as a dark reflection on mortality with significant harmonic experimentation. It is notably more complex than the first, utilizing shifting tonal centers to create a sense of disorientation and profound loss.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: rubato that must breathe naturally without losing the pulse; a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; and chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others.
Beyond that, expect big chords that need weight without harshness, and sharp dynamic and character contrasts held together in one arc.
The primary challenge is managing the rhythmic flexibility and complex voicing required to sustain the piece's heavy emotional weight.
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.
Elegie No.2 (S.197) is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 9.
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 Elegie No.2 (S.197) lasts about 7 minutes.
Elegie No.2 (S.197) 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 Elegy No.2 by Franz Liszt, Elegie by Franz Liszt, Elegy No.1 by Franz Liszt — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.