An alternative version of Nielsen's Ciacona, featuring modified structural developments. It retains the dark, cyclic character of the primary Op. 61 work.
At Henle 4 this is an intermediate piece that expects secure technique and real attention to phrasing. The main demands: independent voices that must each sing on their own line; precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece; and chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others.
Beyond that, expect ornaments that need to sound effortless, not squeezed in.
Focus on the subtle differences in voice leading compared to the original Op. 61 iteration.
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.
Lesser-known works by the same hand, at a comparable level.
Ciacona in A minor (Op.61a) is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 6.
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 Ciacona in A minor (Op.61a) lasts about 5 minutes.
Ciacona in A minor (Op.61a) 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 Ciacona in A minor by Dan Ehlert Nielsen, 11 variationer over 'Nå skrider dagen under' by Dan Ehlert Nielsen, 11 variationer over 'Nå skrider dagen under' by Dan Ehlert Nielsen — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.