Netzel, Laura: Tarantella

Bring the irresistible energy of a whirling tarantella to the stage and dazzle your audience with its brilliant flute writing. Finnish-born Swedish composer Laura Netzel was a pianist, conductor and accomplished late-Romantic composer who often published her music under the name N. Lago. This exhilarating Tarantella comes from her Suite for Violin and String Orchestra, Op.83, and was also published in a shorter version for violin and piano as Op.33. Karen North’s arrangement moves the solo line into a higher key, allowing the music to sit naturally and brilliantly in the flute’s register. Flute-specific effects, including flutter tonguing, add extra colour and excitement, while offbeat accents in the piano accompaniment give the rhythmic flow an engaging sense of momentum. Although written in 2/4 time, the abundance of triplets creates the buoyant sweep of 6/8. Crisp dotted-quaver and semiquaver figures provide an important contrast, giving the dance its rhythmic bite and keeping the performance light, precise and energetic. The tempo can be tailored to the player, from moderately fast to as fast as technique and clarity will allow. Bravura passagework, sparkling articulation and an optional high D at the finish provide an exciting opportunity to demonstrate agility, confidence and command of the flute’s upper register. Perfect for recitals, competitions, examinations or an impressive encore, this distinctive showpiece introduces audiences to a compelling Romantic composer while giving the flautist a memorable alternative to more familiar repertoire. Its catchy melody and infectious energy may well have your audience humming as they leave. Add this brilliant and characterful Tarantella to your repertoire and finish your performance with a flourish.