'Twas summer time oppressed with heat

William Boyce

BaroqueObscuresuiteD majorAllegro4/4~3 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 6ABRSM 5

About this piece

Boyce’s writing is characteristic of the English Baroque tradition, combining clean melodic lines with rigorous contrapuntal activity. It is notable for its rhythmic drive and crisp, clean articulation.

Teacher notes

Clear finger articulation across all voices is required to maintain the stylistic integrity of the period.

Technical focus

counterpointarticulationfinger-independence

Mood

energeticprecise

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to 'Twas summer time oppressed with heat

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is 'Twas summer time oppressed with heat by William Boyce?

'Twas summer time oppressed with heat is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 6.

What level do I need to play 'Twas summer time oppressed with heat?

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 'Twas summer time oppressed with heat?

A typical performance of 'Twas summer time oppressed with heat lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for 'Twas summer time oppressed with heat?

'Twas summer time oppressed with heat is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to 'Twas summer time oppressed with heat?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Keyboard Sonata in D minor by Domenico Scarlatti, Bugatti Step by Jaroslav Ježek — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.