Cavallini Adagio e Tarantella for Clarinet in B flat and Piano

Cavallini's Adagio e Tarantella is one of the best-known works in the advanced clarinet repertoire, but the available editions have often been difficult to work from: cluttered notation, cramped layouts, or versions that cut sections of the original. This new edition by Paul Wood is re-engraved from the 1869 original publication, presenting the complete work in a clear, practical layout for both clarinet and piano.

Ernesto Cavallini (1807-1874) was nicknamed the "Paganini of the Clarinet" by his contemporaries, and the piece earns that comparison. It opens with a dramatic, recitative-like introduction before settling into a long, singing Adagio that asks for sustained operatic tone, controlled vibrato, and expressive phrasing in the Italian Romantic style. The Tarantella — a Neapolitan folk dance with a history connected to the belief that dancing could cure a tarantula bite — follows directly, demanding fast articulation, rhythmic precision, and stamina across an extended, technically demanding passage.

At conservatoire and undergraduate level, the work covers a wide range of advanced technique: rapid scales and arpeggios, expressive dynamics, and the ability to move convincingly between two contrasting characters within a single performance.

At six minutes, the complete version makes a well-proportioned advanced recital or audition piece. The piano part is clearly laid out, making it straightforward to prepare from rather than something to be deciphered alongside the playing.

See and hear the difference

Check the score preview images above, then watch the performance video. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and the overall level of the piece before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Clarinet in B♭ and Piano
• Difficulty: advanced; conservatoire and undergraduate level
• Duration: approximately 6 minutes
• Style focus: operatic cantabile tone (Adagio), fast articulation and stamina (Tarantella)
• Editor: Paul Wood for MyMusicScores, based on the original 1869 publication; complete, uncut version
• Format: PDF download, clarinet part and piano score

Who it's for

Suits an advanced clarinettist preparing for a conservatoire recital, competition, or audition who needs a complete, well-engraved edition of a standard repertoire work. The clean layout makes it practical to learn from, and the full 1869 text ensures nothing is missing from the original.