Chopin: Variations on a Theme by Chopin, op. 22
Romantic Variations Piano solo 27 min
In brief

This set of variations feels both nostalgic and virtuosic: the lyrical theme quickly gives way to episodes that are ornamented, dramatic and glittering, requiring you to remain lyrical even in the more frenzied passages. Technically, focus especially on Analyse harmonique (3.8/5) because quickly spotting modulations and pivot basses will help shape inner voices and choose pedaling, and on Tempo rubato (3.1/5), which here requires controlled rubato — stretching the melodic line while keeping the accompaniment pulse steady with the left hand. The piece belongs to the Romantic tradition and uses the variation form to confront Chopinesque inspiration with a later, pianistic language.

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MusicCoach difficulty
84/100
Master repertoire
Likely range : 72–96/100
Confidence : 40% · to confirm
BeginnerIntermediateAdvancedVirtuoso
Exam grade
About grade 8

Estimated from our difficulty score, not taken from an exam syllabus. Checked against 333 works on the ABRSM syllabus: the exact grade is right 7 times out of 10, and within one grade 99 times out of 100.

Difficulty estimate by MusicCoach on a scale of 1 to 100.

Where this work sits
050100

Most works cluster between 45 and 65: a small score gap often marks a real step. The highlighted bar shows this work among those for the same instrument.

The MusicCoach difficulty measures a work's overall demands (technique, reading, stamina) on a shared 0-100 scale, consolidated from editorial and pedagogical reference points (Henle, exam syllabuses, curation) and our own analyses. It measures neither musical value nor the practice time YOU will need: two musicians of the same level can experience the same work very differently depending on their strengths (hands used to octaves, quick sight-reading…). The confidence reflects how many reference points sit behind the score and how well they agree — a lightly documented score is flagged “to validate”. For a truly personal bearing, the diagnostic and your space compare each work to YOUR estimated level, which the score alone cannot do.

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Relative difficulty
91%
Among Sergei Rachmaninoff
95%
Era Romantic
96%
Genre
Estimated skills
Theory
Harmonic analysis
1
Theory
Knowledge of forms
1
Pedaling
Sustain pedal
1
Style
Romantic style
1
Rhythm
Tempo rubato
1
Technique
Legato
1
Interpretation
Dynamics
1
Technique
Fast passages
1
What to play next?

Each suggestion combines difficulty gap, risk, confidence and skill overlap. The first two cards in each column are the most useful pedagogically.

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