Tarantula

Explore the origins of the tarantella dance, said to be caused by the bite of a poisonous spider. The dance becomes wilder and wilder, leading to the dancer collapsing from exhaustion! It begins with an optional but highly preferred classical guitar solo that introduces the two main themes. The tempo increases substantially as the victim begins the increasingly frantic dance. Although the basic structure of the piece is in traditional sonata form, there is a constant sense of mounting intensity and anxiety throughout the work, until the coda finally accelerates to a frenzied conclusion. A true showstopper!