1. Spinnlied
2. Jagdstück

Other early editions: 1. violin and piano (Rahter, December 1888 plate 2844, arr. Auer), 1. piano (Rahter, November 1884, plate 2515, arr. Kirchner), 1. piano 4 hands (Rahter, September 1899, plate 1150, arr. Pavelko)

David Popper is perhaps best known for his forty Etudes, collectively titled High School of Cello Playing, Op. 73. However, he also composed several other sets of studies, including two collections of easier etudes: Op. 76, comprising twenty-five in total and Zwei Concert-Etüden (concert etudes), Op. 55. The latter were published by D. Rahter in 1884 and are accompanied by piano. These two pieces, Spinnlied and Jagdstück, are both dedicated to the cellist and composer Julius Klengel (1859–1933).

Klengel is remembered primarily for his pedagogical contributions, such as his Concertino in C major and his well-known scale studies, as well as his editorial work on the standard cello repertoire. Yet, he also composed a considerable body of serious works, including four concertos, a double concerto, and numerous pieces for cello ensemble, most often for two or four cellos, but also the celebrated Hymnus for twelve cellos.

Popper’s Spinnlied is a brief perpetual-motion piece that makes an ideal encore. The sixteenth-note figures, typically played under long slurs, spare the bow arm from excessive fatigue, unlike Popper’s more demanding Elfentanz. The left hand, meanwhile, remains largely within a single position, alternating between a stopped note and the thumb, or employing simple arpeggiated figures with double neighbors. The result is a work that sounds dazzling without being prohibitively difficult. Spinnlied was also transcribed for violin by Leopold Auer.

Jagdstück, by contrast, is technically more demanding. Its writing in fingered thirds imitates the sound of two French horns, and presents greater left-hand challenges. Like Spinnlied, it is concise and brilliant, leaving a lively and engaging impression on audiences.

(Excerpted from the preface to the Urtext edition published by Yuriy Leonovich)