Composed in Nohant in 1841 and published in the same year, this is the only tarantella (Italian dance) composed by Chopin for solo piano. Chopin sold the French copyright to the publisher Troupenas for 300 francs (letter to Fontana, October 18, 1841). Chopin had his friend Fontana in Paris make a fair copy of the manuscript, and at that time, he wrote in a letter that he was unsure whether the tarantella should be in 6/8 or 12/8 time and asked Fontana to consultRossini's tarantella songs to decide. For this, his first tarantella, Chopin referred to the authority of the Italian Rossini.

This work is in 6/8 time, with a tempo of Presto. It is in ternary form: Introduction – A – B – A – Coda. The entire piece possesses the characteristic bouncing musical idea of a tarantella. On the other hand, a distinctive feature is the pervasive use of chromatic progression throughout. These chromatic progressions include both radical and gradual types. For example, progressions in eighth-note units create further momentum in the piece, while those in dotted quarter-note units produce effects such as harmonic changes. Although in A-flat major, the frequent use of C-flat and F-flat also lends it a sound reminiscent of A-flat minor.