MusicCoach difficulty
55/100
Intermediate
Level of the complete work
We have no level specific to this movement. The figure above is that of the complete work: within a cycle, movements often differ widely in demand.
Estimated skills
Theory
Knowledge of forms
1
Ornaments
Baroque ornaments
1
Style
Baroque style
1
Rhythm
Polyrhythm 2 against 3
1
Style
Modern and contemporary style
1
Style
Character and style
1
Tone
Touch control
1
Interpretation
Phrasing
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.
Gentle step
The safest next step.
Gentle
Little Suite
Roy Harris
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Polyphonie à trois voix ou plus and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Gentle
Suite in C major, FP19
Francis Poulenc
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Polyphonie à deux voix and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Balanced step
A genuine step up, without a jolt.
Balanced
Creole Dance Suite, op. 15
Alberto Ginastera
close skills
moderate risk
fair confidence
A real step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Style baroque and Ornements baroque — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Balanced
In a Nutshell, suite
Percy Grainger
close skills
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Polyphonie à trois voix ou plus and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Ambitious challenge
A useful leap with guided practice.
Challenge
Petite suite in 15 images
Jacques Ibert
close skills
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap while staying in Intermediate (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Polyphonie à trois voix ou plus and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Challenge
Was der Wald erzählt, suite
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
close skills
moderate risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap while staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. The skill that will carry the work: Style baroque and Ornements baroque — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Same level
Same level
Invention No.14 in B-flat major BWV 785
Johann Sebastian Bach
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, right at the edge of Elementary (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM): different ground, same level. What changes is the skill in play: Polyphonie à deux voix and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Same level
Invention No.11 in G minor BWV 782
Johann Sebastian Bach
new reflexes
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, right at the edge of Elementary (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM): different ground, same level. What changes is the skill in play: Polyphonie à deux voix and Style baroque — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
This movement is calm and poetic, requiring a restrained expressiveness where the melodic line breathes and silences carry as much meaning as the played notes, creating a meditative rather than dance-like mood. You will notably face Connaissance des formes (4.1/5), which here means identifying and shaping sections and reprises to manage tension and resolution, and Ornements baroque (4.1/5), which call for precise, detached finger execution of small ornamental figures so as not to break the line. Composed in Ginastera's modern period, this piece belongs to a suite of criolla dances and occupies an intimate, contrasting place within his output. I do not provide a recording reference because I am not 100% certain of a specific authoritative interpretation.