This is an identical work to the previous entry, showcasing MacDowell's distinctively dramatic late-Romantic piano style. It demands a powerful touch and the ability to balance intense melodic lines against active accompaniment.
At Henle 7 this is a late-advanced work — the technical demands are serious and sustained. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions; and big chords that need weight without harshness.
Beyond that, expect rubato that must breathe naturally without losing the pulse, and a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment.
Students must focus on efficient hand positioning to navigate the large, leaping chords without sacrificing melodic continuity.
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.
Etude de Concert (Op. 36) is rated Henle level 7 of 9 — late advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grade 8 and above. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 10.
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 Etude de Concert (Op. 36) lasts about 4 minutes.
Etude de Concert (Op. 36) 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 Paraphrase of Rigoletto, by Verdi by Franz Liszt, Allegro de Concierto by Enrique Granados, Boabdil by Moritz Moszkowski — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.