Sarasate Arr. Sang Yoon Kim Introduction et Tarentelle Op. 43

Originally for violin and piano, arranged for clarinet and piano by Sang Yoon Kim (Principal clarinet of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra). Required piece for the Fifth Jacques Lancelot International Clarinet Competition, 2020.

Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908), undoubtedly, is one of the most important and most successful violin virtuosos of the second half of the 19th century and has become immortal through his virtuoso and highly expressive bravura pieces in the world of violin playing.  In 1899 Sarasate composed one of his most popular, non-Spanish pieces, 'Introduction & Tarantella' Op. 43, which was published in the following year, even in a version with orchestra accompaniment. The tarantella, a folk dance in 6/8 metre, comes from southern Italy and has developed from dance tunes played in Apulia for people suffering from tarantism. According to popular belief, the bite of a tarantula caused tarantism which was supposed to be cured by wild dancing.