The Tarantella from Burgmuller's Opus 100 collection has a sectional structure with a strong repetitive element. Composed in D minor in 6/8 time the tempo indication is Allegro vivo. The form of the movement could be summarised as being Intro A B A C A Coda. The C middle section is in the tonic major key D major. Crushed note or acciaccaturas feature in the D major section – these are notes played quickly before the main note which is played on the beat. The realisation plays back at 132 dotted quarter appropriate for an improver level keyboard player although there is scope to play it faster. The edited music score has score detail in place. Players will need to approach this movement with a lightness in the hands which will need to be kept close to the keys. There is quite a bit of contrast in the movement both as far a playing touch and dynamics are concerned. It is an appealing attractive work exploring the full range of the piano. Friedich Burgmuller 1806-1874 was a German pianist and composer identified with the romantic period in music history known particularly for his Opus 100 teaching pieces - 25 Easy and Progressive Studies. Although German born he became Paris based from 1832. The Burgmuller Opus 100 collection contains music that is relatively easy to play embracing many of the composition models in place during the 19th century. This is a time in music history when most homes would have had a piano in place in the household. The instrument was studied widely at all playing levels and Burgmuller demonstrated a gift for embracing many musical and stylistic elements into piano miniatures of quality that are excellent practice and performance material for the improving pianist.
