He is considered the first Russian composer to achieve international recognition. Like many Russian composers of his time, he was of noble birth and engaged with music as, so to speak, a dilettante. He traveled to Italy and Berlin several times, seeking to integrate elements of Russian music with the harmony he encountered there. His trials and errors can be considered largely successful, as later Russian music forged new paths, taking Glinka as a model. This work was composed by Glinka in 1843, when he was 39 years old. The autograph manuscript was discovered in the album of Glinka's friend, Bulgakov (1812–1862). Bulgakov, like Glinka, was a composer who engaged with music as, so to speak, a dilettante.

About the Work

The tarantella is a type of dance originating in Southern Italy, characterized by its lively nature and typically written in 3/8 or 6/8 time. However, Glinka wrote this tarantella in 2/4 time. It takes the Russian folk song 'The Birch Tree Standing in the Meadow' as its theme. The piece is in ternary form. In the middle section, legato emphasized by slurs is prominent, contrasting with the outer sections that enclose it.