Based on the iconic Passion chorale, this setting uses Romantic-era harmonic density to convey deep emotional pathos. It is a stylistically heavy and expressive piece typical of late 19th-century church organists' piano arrangements.
At Henle 4 this is an intermediate piece that expects secure technique and real attention to phrasing. The main demands: a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others; and sharp dynamic and character contrasts held together in one arc.
The player must manage the large leaps in the left hand while sustaining a heavy, expressive melodic weight in the right.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.
Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.
Choralpräludium zu 'Herzlich tut mich verlangen' is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 4 — meaning you can already play level 3–4 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 Choralpräludium zu 'Herzlich tut mich verlangen' lasts about 4 minutes.
Choralpräludium zu 'Herzlich tut mich verlangen' 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 Blumenklage by Gustav Lange, Ballade et valse d'Ophélie by Charles Samuel Bovy-Lysberg, Ballade by Alfrēds Kalniņš — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.