This contemporary fantasia utilizes fluid textures to evoke imagery related to water. Its distinctive sound world relies on layered arpeggiated figures and subtle coloristic pedaling.
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; continuous sixteenth-note figuration that must ripple, not chatter; and careful pedaling — clarity depends on the foot as much as the fingers.
Beyond that, expect chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others.
Achieving an even, flowing sound in the rapid sixteenth-note passages is essential for the atmospheric effect.
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.
Fantasia Super aquam is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 6.
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 Fantasia Super aquam lasts about 5 minutes.
Fantasia Super aquam 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 Bóg się rodzi alla bolero by Jakub Kowalewski, Double Fugue in C major by Jakub Kowalewski, Asturias (Leyenda) by Isaac Albéniz — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.