Course folle is an energetic, rhythmically driven etude by Alexandre Croisez. The work focuses on alternating staccato and legato patterns to simulate the sensation of a wild race.
At Henle 4 this is an intermediate piece that expects secure technique and real attention to phrasing. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece; and a left hand with real melodic or rhythmic responsibility of its own.
Coordinate the left-hand accompaniment with the rapid right-hand patterns without losing rhythmic drive.
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.
Course folle 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 Course folle lasts about 3 minutes.
Course folle 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 Cortège du printemps by Alexandre Croisez, C'est une larme by Alexandre Croisez, 12 Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je, Maman" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.