Faceira

Ary Barroso

ModernObscureC majorModerato2/4~3 min

About this piece

Ary Barroso's composition is a charming example of Brazilian melodic writing for the piano. It features an attractive, song-like melody supported by light accompaniment.

What makes it challenging

At Henle 3 this is a late-beginner piece — comfortable hands-together playing is assumed, and musical shaping starts to matter. The main demands: chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others; a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; and careful pedaling — clarity depends on the foot as much as the fingers.

Teacher notes

Maintain a beautiful, connected legato line throughout the piece.

Technical focus

voicingcantabilepedaling

Mood

lyricalelegant

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

What to play around Faceira

Similar to Faceira

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Easier, same character

A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.

The next step up

Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.

Browse all Henle level 3 pieces (Late beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Faceira by Ary Barroso?

Faceira is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 4.

What level do I need to play Faceira?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Faceira?

A typical performance of Faceira lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Faceira?

Faceira is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Faceira?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Arabesque No. 1 by Claude Debussy, Desir by Charles-Valentin Alkan, Butterfly by Aleksandr Ilyinsky — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.