Sydney Smith's salon works were designed to show off pianistic facility, and this Fandango is no exception. It utilizes showy, wide-spanning figures and bravura octave passages.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. The main demands: sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions; octave passages that demand a relaxed wrist to avoid tension; and fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo.
Beyond that, expect careful pedaling — clarity depends on the foot as much as the fingers.
Students must navigate the large-span arpeggios and octave passages with a relaxed wrist to ensure brilliance without tension.
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.
Fandango in D-flat major (Op.34) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.
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 Fandango in D-flat major (Op.34) lasts about 5 minutes.
Fandango in D-flat major (Op.34) 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 Don Giovanni, Grand Fantaisie by Sydney Smith, Fantaisie brillante on Verdi's Rigoletto by Sydney Smith, Fantaisie Brillante on 'Orphée aux Enfers' No.2 by Sydney Smith — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.