This modern fantasy explores expressive, flowing patterns that highlight the lyrical potential of the instrument. It is noted for its accessible harmonic language and idiomatic writing.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. The main demands: continuous sixteenth-note figuration that must ripple, not chatter; rubato that must breathe naturally without losing the pulse; and a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment.
Ensure the flowing sixteenth-note passages remain even and balanced under the melody.
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.
Fantaisie is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7.
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 Fantaisie lasts about 5 minutes.
Fantaisie 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 12 Variations in B-flat major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Intermezzo in A major, No. 2 by Johannes Brahms, Ave Maria d'Arcadelt by Franz Liszt — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.