Herman Bellstedt's "Variations on a Neapolitan Song" takes as its theme the swinging, ever-popular Funiculì Funiculà—not a folk song, as is usually assumed, but an original composition by Luigi Denza. Bellstedt was a famous cornetist who played with many bands between 1873 and 1909, including Sousa's, and he tailored Napoli perfectly to his own strengths: expert tonguing and a wide range. The full band quickly outlines the song's chorus, whereupon the cornet enters with a flourish and a little cadenza that repeatedly nudges the top of the instrument's range. After nearly a minute of this, soloist and band play Denza's popular tarantella "straight," trading phrases until the chorus, which the cornet plays through, followed by a repeat by the band. The first variation bounces along, with the soloist playing splatters of notes that sometimes give the illusion of double stops. The second variation engages the soloist in quick runs all over the scale, runs that only intensify during a repeat of the chorus. The final section, not really a separate variation, requires great reserves of breath (or at least circular breathing), and sends the cornetist into the stratosphere on the last note.

© James Reel, Rovi