The Borodiana Suite concludes with the Grande Tarantella. This spectacular piece was composed in 1862 for piano duet (four-hands.) Employing a large symphony orchestra, I have orchestrated Borodin’s exhuberant music in the colorful style in which Rimsky-Korsakov orchestrated Borodin’s Pololvetsian Dances from Prince Igor and Alexander Glazounov orchestrated Borodin’s Third Symphony. Having analyzed the piece thoroughly, I can only marvel at Borodin’s compositional wizardry in this intricate work. Its many parts function like a Swiss watch. At the same time, the music exhudes joy. By the time the coda arrives, the compulsion to set up and dance is irresistible.

To listen to all six movements in order, just jump down to the bottom of the page after each movement finished. You will find a box labeled Associated Scores, and in this box are links to the other movements.

In addition to perusing the score online and hearing it played by basic MIDI sounds with SCORCH, you can also listen online to an MP3 of each movement, made with enhanced musical sounds. And if you wish, you can download these MP3 file free-of-charge for repeated listening.

Please let me know what you think of this arrangement of Borodin’s Grande Tarantella - either by email (just click the button EMAIL THE PUBLISHER) or with an online review. I am always interested to read listeners’ comments.

MS