Edward German wrote this piece in the tradition of the salon concert study, prioritizing charm and pianistic fluidity. It uses the resonance of A-flat major to create a shimmering, bright soundscape.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions; and precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece.
Beyond that, expect continuous sixteenth-note figuration that must ripple, not chatter.
Achieving an even, pearly touch in the rapid right-hand arpeggios is the core difficulty.
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.
Concert Study in A-flat major is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 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 Concert Study in A-flat major lasts about 3 minutes.
Concert Study in A-flat major 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 Concert Study in A flat by Edward German, Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin, Rondo capriccioso in E major by Felix Mendelssohn — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.