This piece is from a set of 12 short character pieces. Prokofiev wrote it while preparing to move back to the Soviet Union, after spending time in Paris. He finished it the same year he wrote Romeo and Juliet. Tarantella is a fiery dance that requires light and agile fingers. The biggest challenge in this piece is not speed, but finger control. Accents are placed in specific places, and the remaining 8th notes must remain very even with minimal finger movement.