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Tarantella

Johann Kaspar Mertz

This is a tarantella by the nineteenth century Hungarian composer Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806 - 1856). His music can be characterised as late-classical to early-romantic. He was both a renowned player and a prolific composer (over hundred works for the guitar). He performed all over Europe.

A Tarantella is a traditional Italian dance in quick tempo. Rumor has it that the dance mimicks the movements of people who are bitten by the Tarantula, a poisonous spider. Actually the dance has its name from the South Italian port Taranto. It is a virtuoso piece which requires practice to get it up to tempo. Make sure that your fingering supports the speed.

Tarantella is a bit of a long piece: 7 pages of score. I arranged the score such, that you can study the musical segments within a page turn. I guess that's more comfortable for learning by heart than an arbitrary page break.