Squire Tarantella Op 23 for Cello and String Orchestra

Squire: Tarantella, Op. 23 (Arr. Solo Cello and String Orchestra)

Squire's Tarantella Op. 23 is one of the most effective showpieces in the cello student repertoire: it sounds considerably more demanding than it is, the Italian dance character gives a performance immediate audience impact, and it has been a standard competition and recital piece in Britain for well over a century. This arrangement sets it for solo cello and string orchestra, expanding the original piano accompaniment to give the solo line a fuller, more dynamic backdrop.

The piece sits at around Grade 7 and covers a useful spread of technical ground. The tarantella character demands a driven, rhythmically precise bow and quick left-hand articulation throughout, while the contrasting lyrical passages ask for a singing tone and genuine melodic shaping. Bow distribution and control are central: managing the energy and bow speed across the full length of the piece without the technique becoming effortful is one of its main demands. The writing is idiomatic throughout, so the technical challenges serve the music rather than working against it.

At four to five minutes, it makes a well-proportioned solo feature with strong audience appeal.

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Cello + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: approximately ABRSM Grade 7 (solo cello)
• Duration: approximately 4–5 minutes
• Style focus: rhythmic bow drive, left-hand articulation, lyrical singing tone, bow distribution and control
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

This works well as a solo feature in school concerts, youth orchestra programmes, and music service events where something with immediate audience appeal is wanted at Grade 7 level. The piece has a long performance tradition in Britain as a competition and recital showpiece, which makes it a reliable and crowd-pleasing choice. Teachers will find it useful for developing bow control and left-hand facility in a context that genuinely motivates students.