Popper - Tarantella No. 2, Op. 57 (Urtext Edition)

David Popper composed three Tarantellas (Opp. 33, 57, and 64, No. 2). His first Tarantella in G major, Op. 33 remains a staple of the cello repertoire and is often studied by students in their teenage years. The other two works, however, are frequently overlooked. Zweite Tarantella, Op. 57, dedicated to the cellist-composer Hugo Becker (1863–1941), is a witty and spirited piece representative of Popper’s later style. Harmonically adventurous, it displays the same coloristic richness and bold modulations found in Im Walde and Jagdstück.

The Zweite Tarantella was published by D. Rahter in 1885 (plates 2551.2762) and is written in ternary form. The outer sections are in D major, while the middle section moves through several keys, including D-flat and A major. Unlike its predecessor in G major, this Tarantella lends itself naturally to a slightly slower tempo. An early transcription for violin and piano by Emil Kühns was published in 1887, suggesting that Rahter anticipated a broad appeal for the work, though its popularity has since waned. The piece has been recorded professionally by Japanese cellist Yutaka Hayashi and pianist Satoshi Inagaki.

This edition is based on the first edition published by D. Rahter. All editorial changes and deviations from the original text are indicated in the score. The separate cello part and the cello line from the piano score have been collated to present a more comprehensive and unified realization of the solo cello part.