This contemporary set of variations explores a wide range of tonal centers and textures across 24 keys. It is distinctive for its complex modern harmonic language and rigorous structural planning.
The primary challenge lies in the rapid adaptation of hand positions across disparate key signatures.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
17 Variations on 3 Themes through 24 Keys is rated Henle level 7 of 9 — late advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grade 8 and above.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 7 — meaning you can already play level 6–7 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of 17 Variations on 3 Themes through 24 Keys lasts about 15 minutes.
17 Variations on 3 Themes through 24 Keys is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel by Johannes Brahms, Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, Variations on a Theme of Corelli by Sergei Rachmaninoff — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.