MacDowell: Alla Tarantella, Opus 39, No. 2: Piano Sheet

This tarantella captures the driving energy of a Neapolitan folk dance while maintaining the refinement you'd expect from a late Romantic masterwork. The contrasting middle section gives students a chance to explore legato and lyrical playing before returning to the propulsive rhythmic character of the outer sections, making it both musically satisfying and pedagogically valuable.

Propulsive and spirited, with the irresistible momentum of a southern Italian dance. The relentless 8th-note figuration in the outer sections creates infectious rhythmic drive, while the contrasting legato middle section offers a moment of lyrical breathing before the tarantella returns with renewed energy.

Late intermediate pianists ready to explore Romantic-era character pieces with genuine musical depth. This work suits students preparing for competition or recital who want repertoire beyond standard etude collections and introduces them to an important American composer.

• Maintain consistent pulse in the 6/8 meter; the dancing character depends on feeling the measure in two rather than counting six individual beats.
• Shape the left hand chords rhythmically without heaviness. They anchor the texture but should never overshadow the flowing right hand melody.
• Contrast the articulation sharply between the outer sections and the legato middle. This sectional work gives students practice in voice independence and tonal color.

Program this alongside other Romantic character pieces to showcase the breadth of MacDowell's compositional voice. Its moderate length and distinctive character make it ideal as a secondary work in a student recital or as part of a thematic program exploring dance forms across the classical repertoire.

• Maintaining consistent pulse in 6/8 meter
• Balancing rapid passagework in one hand against rhythmic support in the other
• Contrasting articulation and tone color between sections
• Shaping legato phrasing in the middle section
• Building stamina for extended figuration at moderate tempo