Venetian Gondola Song Op. 30 No. 6 MIDI & Sheet Music
Felix Mendelssohn · 1835
The Venetian Gondola Song is the last of the six Songs Without Words in Mendelssohn's Op. 30, in F-sharp minor, composed in 1835. Mendelssohn put no words to these pieces: the piano sings alone, like an opera aria without the voices. This one is marked Allegretto tranquillo.
⏱3:50 with repeats♪820 notes🎚Intermediate🎼F-sharp minor♩60 per quarter🎹A1 → E6🦶pedal marks
On piano it's a barcarolle: a rocking 6-eighth rhythm like a boat on water, with a sad, tender melody above it. The file is modest, 578 notes in 2:46, and ideal for learning to separate a melody from its accompaniment. If you like this mood, try Schumann’s Träumerei next.
The even rocking of the accompaniment, in joined notes
A melody louder than the accompaniment
Pedal that follows the rocking without drowning it
The shading of the phrase, from murmur to lift
The tricky passages
Bar 33 : a leap of 39 semitones (over two octaves) in the right hand, in under half a second
Bar 35 : the right hand shifts position by 28 semitones compared with the previous bar
Bar 39 : the busiest bar, with 15 notes across both hands
Playing the Venetian Gondola Song on piano with Pianovera
Separate the roles: loop the left hand alone in Pianovera until the rocking is automatic, then add the melody in Wait mode. Pedal is set by ear, at slow speed.
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About this piece
How long is the Venetian Gondola Song?
The MIDI file lasts 3:50, with every repeat played in full: 55 bars in 6/8 (78 played with the repeats), 820 notes, at 60 bpm (quarter notes). Slowed to 60%, it lasts 6:23.
What level do you need to play the Venetian Gondola Song?
We rate it intermediate in F-sharp minor, with sustain pedal marks. The left hand stretches up to 7 semitones (a fifth) and the right hand up to 12 semitones (an octave), across 55 semitones of keyboard (A1 to E6), at 3.6 notes per second on average. The first thing to work on: the even rocking of the accompaniment, in joined notes.
What is the hardest passage in the Venetian Gondola Song?
It is bar 33: a leap of 39 semitones (over two octaves) in the right hand, in under half a second.
What tempo should a beginner practice the Venetian Gondola Song at?
Aim for 35 bpm (quarter notes), which is 60% of the file's tempo (60).
Is there sheet music for the Venetian Gondola Song with fingering?
Yes: 543 fingerings, 55 bars, shown in full above and as a free printable PDF.
