Swert - Scherzo Capriccioso, Op. 17 (urtext edition)

Jules de Swert (1843–1891) was a Belgian cellist and composer, and a contemporary of Tchaikovsky, Sarasate, and Popper. Although his music is rarely performed today, his works belong to the same nineteenth-century virtuoso tradition as Wieniawski and Vieuxtemps, including his own ambitious Faust Fantasia. His cello writing is idiomatic, brilliant, and deeply rooted in the Romantic virtuoso style.

We are happy to present an urtext edition of de Swert’s Scherzo Capriccioso, based on the first edition. This lively work is a Spanish waltz that explores up-bow and down-bow staccato, combining charm, flair, and technical sparkle. The Scherzo Capriccioso was dedicated to de Swert’s brother Isidore (1830–1896), who was also a cellist. We would like to thank the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections & University Archives at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for providing the source for this edition.

Fun, virtuosic, and highly effective in performance, Scherzo Capriccioso is an excellent choice for advanced cellists looking for a Romantic showpiece beyond the standard repertoire. It is well suited for recitals, lessons, competitions, and performers interested in reviving the music of nineteenth-century cellist-composers.

ASTA level: 4