Alla Tarantella

Jean Louis Nicodé

RomanticSpecialisttarantellaD minorPresto6/8~4 min
H6
Henle (estimated)
RCM 8ABRSM 7

About this piece

Jean Louis Nicodé was a significant figure in the late Romantic period, and his Tarantella is a demanding concert piece. It features the virtuosic flair typical of late 19th-century salon and concert literature.

Teacher notes

Achieving the necessary velocity while maintaining tonal clarity in the chords is the significant hurdle here.

Technical focus

speed-agilityarticulationlarge-chordswide-spanarpeggios

Mood

energeticdramaticbrilliant

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

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Frequently asked questions

How hard is Alla Tarantella by Jean Louis Nicodé?

Alla Tarantella is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.

What level do I need to play Alla Tarantella?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Alla Tarantella?

A typical performance of Alla Tarantella lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Alla Tarantella?

Alla Tarantella is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Alla Tarantella?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Bilder aus dem Süden by Jean Louis Nicodé, 'When Meteor Lights' with Variations by Ferdinand Ries, Bataille by Louis Moreau Gottschalk — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.