Wieniawski: Scherzo-Tarantelle Op. 16 (Viool en Piano)

Scherzo-Tarantella for violin and piano op. 16 a sparkling, glittering virtuoso miniature was written in 1855, when Wieniawskis violin career and fame were approaching their peak. The work was dedicated to Lambert Massart, a professor at the Paris Conservatory, who had been Wieniawskis teacher. The work belongs to the category of virtuoso miniatures, but its character is less of a salon composition than other miniatures, such as Capriccio-Valse op. 7, or Romance sans paroles et Rondo élégant op. 9. The work is written with panache, and provides the soloist with an opportunity to display his technical skills, but it also contains a lyrical, sweet cantilena, so characteristic of Wieniawski's work.