Variations op. 21,1
Variations Piano solo
In brief

This set of piano variations alternates clear lyrical cantabile episodes with more rhythmically driven sections, requiring precise attacks and differentiation of textures to make the contrasting figures audible. Technically, the listed skill “Technique générale (2.5/5)” here means controlling the fingers to execute quicker passages softly while keeping voice clarity, and the listed skill “Phrasing (2.5/5)” requires targeted duration and legato shaping to sculpt short subsidiary phrases; the listed “Dynamics (2.5/5)” likewise calls for fine balancing between layers. The provided metadata marks the period as unknown, though the piece belongs to Brahms's body of piano variations and is useful for working on thematic transformation techniques.

MusicCoach difficulty
73/100
Advanced
Likely range : 67–78/100
Confidence : 55% · fair confidence
BeginnerIntermediateAdvancedVirtuoso
Exam grade
About grade 7 to 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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Difficulty sources
Henle Verlag
7
74/100 normalised · 4 obs.
Relative difficulty
81%
Among Johannes Brahms
89%
Era
80%
Genre
Estimated skills
Interpretation
Dynamics
1
Interpretation
Phrasing
1
Technique
General technique
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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