Composer

:

Louis Moreau Gottschalk

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1868

Publication Date

:

1969

Average_duration

:

7:31

Louis Moreau Gottschalk's Grande Tarantelle, for piano and string quintet, Op. 67, RO 259, was composed in 1867. The piece premiered on January 8, 1868, in Paris, with Gottschalk himself on the piano. The Grande Tarantelle is a single-movement work that lasts approximately 10 minutes. It is characterized by its lively and energetic rhythms, which are reminiscent of the tarantella, a traditional Italian dance. The piece is also notable for its use of syncopation and virtuosic piano passages. The piece begins with a fast and frenzied introduction, featuring a series of ascending and descending scales in the piano. The strings then enter with a syncopated rhythm, which is soon joined by the piano. The main theme of the piece is introduced by the piano, and is characterized by its rapid arpeggios and trills. The strings provide a rhythmic accompaniment, with pizzicato and tremolo passages. The middle section of the piece features a slower and more lyrical melody, which is introduced by the strings. The piano then takes over with a virtuosic passage, which leads back into the main theme. The piece concludes with a fast and frenzied coda, featuring a series of rapid scales and arpeggios in the piano. Overall, the Grande Tarantelle is a lively and energetic work, showcasing Gottschalk's virtuosic piano writing and his ability to blend traditional European and American musical styles.

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