This is a relatively early work in Saint-Saëns' output, but it already shows the considerable skills of its creator. As many classical music enthusiasts know, the composer was a child prodigy and thus evolved his mature style rather quickly. This piece has all the sophistication of the work of a seasoned master, at least in its instrumental writing. Its music may not divulge the originality or thematic distinctiveness of many of Saint-Saëns' later works, but it has charm and a deft sense of humor. This Tarantella is catchy from its opening notes: zesty rhythms and menacing dance music combine to create an amusingly creepy atmosphere that augurs the mood and writing in such works as Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice. The music is lively, not as fast, however, as that usually associated with tarantellas, which often have a frenzied character. Here, Saint-Saëns seems to want to underscore the myth about the origins of this Italian dance, which was thought to result from the bite of a tarantula spider or to serve as its cure. He makes the flute and clarinet slither and swirl and dance so menacingly, often in unison, and partners them with discreet and subtle orchestral writing. This is a fine piece now sometimes heard in an arrangement for flute, clarinet, and piano.

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