'Who Knows?'

Ernest Roland Ball

RomanticKnownromanceE-flat majorAndante4/4~4 min
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 4

About this piece

A classic American sentimental ballad often transcribed or adapted for piano. It is distinguished by its soaring, emotional melodic line and effective use of rich harmonic progressions.

Teacher notes

Focus on the cantabile phrasing to ensure the melody projects over the harmonic accompaniment.

Technical focus

cantabilepedalingvoicingrubato

Mood

melancholicintimatenarrative

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Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to 'Who Knows?'

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

Browse all Henle level 3 pieces (Late beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is 'Who Knows?' by Ernest Roland Ball?

'Who Knows?' is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.

What level do I need to play 'Who Knows?'?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 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 'Who Knows?'?

A typical performance of 'Who Knows?' lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for 'Who Knows?'?

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

What pieces are similar to 'Who Knows?'?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Ballade by Emil Śmietański, Ballada by Jonatán Zámbó, Prelude in E minor, No. 4 by Frédéric Chopin — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.