LIADOV BARCAROLLE IN F SHARP OP 44

Key: F sharp Tempo: Andante amorevole Style: Romantic Will improve your: ✓ LH ‘blind’ playing ✓ Sense of barcarolle tempo ✓ Cantabile

The barcarolle is a traditional Venetian boat song. As a solo piano piece, it has been adopted by many composers including Chopin, Fauré and Liadov. The most famous barcarolle that springs to mind is that of Chopin’s – it is widely recognised as one of his ultimate masterpieces.

Anatoly Liadov was born in 1855, six years after the death of Chopin. He would have played much of Chopin’s music and there is no doubting the influence of the Polish composer over the younger Russian composer. When I listened to this piece for the first time, it struck in order to create such a loving tribute. This poetic piece deserves to have a place in all pianists’ repertoire.