Théodore Lack's Danse-caprice is a quintessential late-Romantic salon piece focused on virtuosic display. It features brilliant passagework and light, sparkling textures designed to showcase digital clarity.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. 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 a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment.
The primary challenge lies in achieving a light, pearly touch across rapid scale and arpeggio figures.
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.
Danse-caprice (Op.28) 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 Danse-caprice (Op.28) lasts about 4 minutes.
Danse-caprice (Op.28) 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 Bonne brise by Théodore Lack, Boléro by Théodore Lack, Bataille de fleurs by Théodore Lack — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.