Performances

Tarantella for Ukulele Long before it reached the concert hall, the tarantella was treated as medicine: people in southern Italy believed this fast dance could draw a spider’s venom out of the body. Below you’ll find the strange story behind the tarantella, followed by a guide to this fingerstyle arrangement. You’ll find the sheet music … Read more

Vivaldi Largo for Ukulele: Concerto in D for Lute Antonio Vivaldi wrote his Concerto in D for Lute for a Bohemian count during a journey north of the Alps, and its slow middle movement, the Largo, adapts beautifully to solo ukulele in the key of G. In this post you’ll read about Vivaldi and the … Read more

Leyenda by Albéniz for Classical Ukulele Introduction Isaac Albéniz’s Leyenda is also known by titles such as Prelude and Asturias and was first published as a prelude in Chants d’Espagne in 1892. The piece is strongly influenced by the flamenco traditions of Andalucia, Spain. It follows the bulería form and rhythm, and the arrangement brings … Read more

Julia Florida by Barrios for Classical Ukulele Introduction Agustín Barrios composed Julia Florida in 1938 and dedicated it to his student Julia Martinez. Written during a difficult period in his life, the piece has a lyrical character that fits nicely on the ʻukulele. In this arrangement, the piece is set in G, allowing the melody, … Read more

Passacaglia by Weiss for Classical Ukulele Introduction Silvius Leopold Weiss’s Passacaglia brings one of the great Baroque lute traditions into a new setting for classical ukulele. Originally composed for lute in D major, this arrangement transposes the piece to G, placing the music in a range that suits low-G ukulele while preserving the repeating bass … Read more

Alman by Robert Johnson for Classical Ukulele Introduction Alman by Robert Johnson is a Renaissance-era piece originally written for lute and arranged here for low-G ukulele. Johnson was an English Renaissance musician, not to be confused with the blues guitarist of the same name. This piece is based on a German dance form and is … Read more

Tango by Isaac Albéniz for Low-G Ukulele Isaac Albéniz’s Tango is one of his most familiar works, and it adapts especially well to low-G ukulele. In this arrangement, it pairs naturally with La Paloma. The two pieces begin with the same D major chord phrase, and both rely on rhythmic contrast, including shifts between triplets, … Read more

La Paloma for Classical Ukulele La Paloma, which means “The Dove,” is the best-known work by Sebastián Yradier. Written in 1860 in the Basque countryside of Spain, it has remained in circulation for well over a century and continues to appear in many instrumental and vocal settings. This arrangement brings the piece to low-G ukulele … Read more

Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven for Classical Ukulele Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” is one of the most recognizable works in the piano repertoire, admired for its haunting atmosphere, lyrical simplicity, and emotional intensity. The opening movement, with its gentle triplet motion and singing melody, creates a sound world that feels both intimate and dramatic. Its dark, reflective … Read more