Moment Musical No. 4
A continuous stream of semiquavers in the left hand with the right setting a theme above it. Four minutes without a break.
The piece at a glance
- Composer
- Sergei Rachmaninoff
- Year
- 1896
- Origin
- Op. 16 No. 4
- Key
- E minor
- Level
- Advanced
- Keys recommended
- 88
How difficult is it?
The left hand plays almost without stopping. It is not individual passages that are hard, but the stamina across the whole piece.
The real hurdle
The left hand cramps if you play it too loudly. It is accompaniment, even though it has more notes than the melody.
How long does it take?
Two to four months.
A rule of thumb, not a rule – how fast it goes depends on prior experience and practice time. This level is an assessment, not a measurement: most pieces exist in arrangements ranging from heavily simplified to concert level. The rating refers to the common arrangement.
Which instrument suits it?
The runs need an even action. On instruments with an uneven touch every bump is audible.
Instruments that suit it
Roland FP-E50 EU approx. €690–780Portable digital piano with PHA-4 Standard action.
Yamaha Clavinova CLP-845 EU approx. €2,200–2,600The Clavinova upper class: GrandTouch-S action with wooden keys – CFX plus Bösendorfer Imperial on board.
Kawai MP11SE EU approx. €2,200–2,350Stage piano with Grand Feel action.
The catalogue lists 233 instruments with verified data – key count, action and connections documented rather than claimed.
Where to find the sheet music
The work is in the public domain: the term of protection – 70 years after the composer’s death – has expired. Note that a modern engraving or a new arrangement can still be protected. What is free are the old editions, not automatically every version.
Free: the historical editions
IMSLP holds the old, public-domain editions as PDFs – free and legal. Engraving and fingering reflect their era; anyone wanting a modern, easily readable edition is often better served by a paid one.
Modern editions and arrangements
Simplified versions, modern engraving and arrangements are available from the usual sheet music retailers. We will add direct links here shortly.
Frequently asked questions
How difficult is Moment Musical No. 4?
The left hand plays almost without stopping. It is not individual passages that are hard, but the stamina across the whole piece.
What key is Moment Musical No. 4 in?
Moment Musical No. 4 is in E minor.
How many keys do you need for Moment Musical No. 4?
88 keys are recommended.
Who composed Moment Musical No. 4?
Sergei Rachmaninoff, 1896.
Can you download the sheet music for Moment Musical No. 4 for free?
The work is in the public domain: the term of protection – 70 years after the composer’s death – has expired. Note that a modern engraving or a new arrangement can still be protected. What is free are the old editions, not automatically every version.
How long does it take to learn Moment Musical No. 4?
Two to four months.
If this suits you
Flight of the Bumblebee Nikolai Rimsky-KorsakovThe Bumblebee – the piece by which speed has been measured for as long as pianos have existed.
Heroic Polonaise Frédéric ChopinChopin’s best-known loud piece: a march with a run-up that tips over in the middle across descending octaves …