Escorregando is a brilliant Brazilian tango/choro by Ernesto Nazareth that showcases the composer's unique blend of European dance forms and Brazilian syncopation. It is noted for its rapid, slipping chromatic lines.
At Henle 4 this is an intermediate piece that expects secure technique and real attention to phrasing. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; continuous sixteenth-note figuration that must ripple, not chatter; and precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece.
Beyond that, expect a left hand with real melodic or rhythmic responsibility of its own.
Master the rapid sixteenth-note passages while maintaining the precise, crisp articulation characteristic of Brazilian piano music.
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.
Escorregando is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.
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 Escorregando lasts about 3 minutes.
Escorregando 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 Elite-Club by Ernesto Nazareth, Espalhafatoso by Ernesto Nazareth, Comigo é na madeira by Ernesto Nazareth — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.