Also known as 'Ne brani menya, moy drug', this is Liszt's piano transcription of a Russian romance by Dubuque. It is distinctive for its poignant, vocal-like melody that demands refined touch and sensitive phrasing.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. The main demands: a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; rubato that must breathe naturally without losing the pulse; and chord voicing — bringing out one note inside a handful of others.
Beyond that, expect careful pedaling — clarity depends on the foot as much as the fingers.
Focus on the legato phrasing and subtle dynamic shading within the melody line.
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.
Do not reproach me (S.340a) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 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 Do not reproach me (S.340a) lasts about 4 minutes.
Do not reproach me (S.340a) 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 Valse oubliée No. 1 by Franz Liszt, Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth by Franz Liszt, Die Zelle im Nonnenwerth by Franz Liszt — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.