Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo

Mascagni’s gentle and beautifully melodic Intermezzo from his tragic opera, Cavalleria Rusticana, is scored in the original for strings and harp, so an arrangement for violin and piano works well. Moraru’s arrangement begins with a fourbar introduction reproduced from the final four bars, in my opinion lessening somewhat the effect of the ethereal ending.

His accompaniment, which differs considerably from other editions, is sensitive and supportive of the violin line. Moraru’s fingerings show not only where to shift position but indicate expressive intent. It is possible to play the entire arrangement on the two upper strings, though some D-string colour could be added. This short piece is a worthwhile exercise in bow control and for developing personal expressivity. The Intermezzo is about Grade 4 standard but is
a useful piece to add to one’s gig repertoire.