'Sinfonia'

Stephen McManus

ModernObscuresuiteAndante4/4~5 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 6

About this piece

Sinfonia is a contemporary exploration of contrapuntal textures within a solo piano framework. It stands out for its modern harmonic language and intricate layering of independent voices.

Teacher notes

Focus on maintaining distinct voicing and clarity across complex contrapuntal lines.

Technical focus

counterpointfinger-independencelayered-texture

Mood

intellectualcontemplative

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to 'Sinfonia'

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is 'Sinfonia' by Stephen McManus?

'Sinfonia' is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play 'Sinfonia'?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 4 — meaning you can already play level 3–4 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 'Sinfonia'?

A typical performance of 'Sinfonia' lasts about 5 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for 'Sinfonia'?

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

What pieces are similar to 'Sinfonia'?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include 'Werde munter, mein Gemüte' by Johann Sebastian Bach, Bourrée h-Moll by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Albumblatt, BV 272 by Ferruccio Busoni — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.