Music with Ease > Classical Music > Concert Guide: Romantic Era > Saltarello - Gounod

Gounod’s brilliant "Saltarello," one of the most prominent examples of this characteristic Italian dance form, was first heard in London in 1871. It is scored for very full orchestra, including fife, four horns, tuba, grossecaisse, cymbals, triangles, tambourine and strings. It opens with a sparkling introduction which leads up to the principal theme, kept up with great vigor and with various changes of key, until modulations take place into the key of F major, and a new theme. After this is developed, the work comes back to the original key and subject, and the Saltarello closes in brilliant fashion.