Faily Tales

Charles F. Strickland

RomanticObscureromance~3 min

About this piece

This is a character piece by an obscure composer likely intended for pedagogical or salon use. It relies on a simple melodic structure supported by a lyrical accompaniment.

What makes it challenging

At Henle 2 this is a beginner-level piece, where steady coordination between the hands is the main hurdle. The main demands: a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; careful pedaling — clarity depends on the foot as much as the fingers; and chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others.

Teacher notes

Focus on maintaining a consistent singing tone in the melody while keeping the accompaniment quiet.

Technical focus

cantabilepedalingvoicing

Mood

narrativetender

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

What to play around Faily Tales

Similar to Faily Tales

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 2 pieces (Beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Faily Tales by Charles F. Strickland?

Faily Tales is rated Henle level 2 of 9 — beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 2–3. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 3.

What level do I need to play Faily Tales?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 2 — meaning you can already play level 1–2 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 Faily Tales?

A typical performance of Faily Tales lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Faily Tales?

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

What pieces are similar to Faily Tales?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Für Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven, Die Parade der Zinnsoldaten by Léon Jessel, Edelweiss by Gustav Lange — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.