Popper - Spanish Dances, Op. 54 (Urtext Edition, Piano Version)

David Popper’s Spanish Dances were issued by Rahter in two installments: the first three dances in 1883 and the final two in late 1886 or early 1887. Unlike the Spanish-themed pieces of Sarasate and other contemporaries, these dances use Popper’s own original melodies rather than arrangements of popular songs. The set offers a colorful sequence of character pieces that combine Spanish atmosphere, salon elegance, rhythmic vitality, and Popper’s unmistakable idiomatic writing for the cello.

The first two numbers, Zur Guitarre and Serenade, are dedicated to the Russian cellist Alexander Verzhbilovich. Although the first page of Zur Guitarre lacks a dedication, it appears on the title page, and the two pieces also bear consecutive plate numbers, 2446 and 2447. The third number, Spanischer Carneval, plate no. 2490, is dedicated to Count Guillermo Morphy, a Spanish aristocrat, music critic, musicologist, and composer. The final two dances, plate nos. 2670 and 2671, are dedicated to the Bohemian-born cellist Heinrich Grünfeld.

This new orchestration aims to present the Spanish Dances in a manner that is more authentic to Popper’s personal style. In the solo cello part, fingerings, bowings, and articulations have been supplied by combining evidence from both the cello and piano scores. The Critical Commentary outlines errors and significant inconsistencies between the two sources. Artificial harmonic fingerings have largely been omitted, since they follow an obvious pattern once the first note is established.

Well suited for recitals, concerto programs, competitions, and orchestral-feature performances, the Spanish Dances give cellists opportunities to explore character contrast, rhythmic clarity, Spanish color, lyrical phrasing, harmonics, articulation, and refined Romantic virtuosity.

ASTA level: 3–4