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.
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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This Fantasia in A minor unfolds as a contrapuntal piece with flowing voice exchanges that convey a restrained, slightly melancholic character rather than overt drama. Technically, you will need to address Phrasing (2.5/5) by shaping entries and responses of the voices with subtle accents and dynamic control, and Legato (2.5/5) by keeping a steady finger touch and coordinated arm support so the counterpoint connects smoothly without breaks. The work comes from the English Renaissance and belongs to the body of fantasias that emphasize interweaving vocal lines over solo showmanship.