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POPPER – Elfentanz (Dance of the Elves), Op.39 – 5 CELLOS

Other Identification:
“Elfentanz” (Dance of the Elves), Op. 39, is a famous short showpiece for cello, composed by the Bohemian cellist and composer David Popper. It was composed around September 1881, with other arrangements being made shortly after.

The virtuosic work highlights the cello’s unique sound and extended range with rapid passages and technical demands. It was composed around 1881 or 1882 and was likely inspired by modern 19th-century interpretations of elves from folklore and mythology, rather than the medieval depictions.

Movements or sections:
marked ‘Presto’

Instrumentation: QUINTET OF FIVE CELLOS
Arranged by David Johnstone

3 PDFs –
1 – Cello 1 (soloist)
2 – Cellos 2 and 3
3 – Cellos 4 and 5

Approximate difficulty:
Cello soloist – very difficult
Other cellos – medium

Dedicatee of this presentation (if applicable):
The original composition Popper dedicated to Franz Neruda
The Cello arrangement of Johnstone is dedicated to Fahmy Tarek

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David Johnstone lives near Pamplona (Navarre, Spain) with his wife Rosa and their two “Spanglish” children, close to the Atlantic Pyrenees. The nearest international airport is Bilbao.

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