Wieniawski Scherzo Tarantella Op.16 for Violin and String Orchestra

Wieniawski: Scherzo-Tarantella Op. 16 for Violin and String Orchestra

Wieniawski's Scherzo-Tarantella, Op. 16 is one of the most immediately gripping pieces in the violin repertoire: a compact showpiece that combines a mischievous scherzo with a relentlessly driven tarantella, and one that rarely fails to bring an audience to the edge of their seats. This arrangement transfers the original violin and piano version to solo violin and string orchestra, replacing the piano part with a newly composed orchestral accompaniment.

The technical demands are unrelenting throughout. The tarantella requires a sautillé or spiccato bow stroke that can be sustained at speed without losing clarity, clean left-hand articulation through rapid scale passages, reliable double stops, left-hand pizzicato, and harmonics. It's the kind of piece that exposes any technical weakness quickly and rewards the player who has genuinely mastered these skills with something that sounds effortless from the front of house. At Diploma standard, the technique needs to be secure before the musical shaping can begin in earnest; this isn't a piece that can be carefully worked into shape.

The string orchestra provides rhythmic momentum and harmonic support throughout, giving the soloist a solid platform to project from. The orchestral writing is energetic and characterful without competing with the solo line, and the ensemble parts are demanding but sit comfortably within advanced string orchestra territory.

At six minutes, the Scherzo-Tarantella is exactly the right length for a showpiece. It doesn't outstay its welcome: it arrives, makes its impression, and ends before the energy has a chance to dissipate.

See and hear the difference

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 Violin + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional (solo); Advanced (ensemble)
• Duration: approximately 6 minutes
• Orchestration: newly composed string orchestra accompaniment based on the original piano part
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

This is a natural choice for conservatoire and professional recitals where a technically brilliant, audience-pleasing finale is needed. It works equally well as a competition or diploma showpiece, where its combination of technical demands and musical character makes it a strong and less predictable alternative to the standard concerto repertoire.