“El Toro” is a Spanish dance reminiscent of an exciting bullfight in Madrid. (El toromeans “the bull” in Spanish.) After a castanet-style introduction, the theme is passed from high strings to low strings and back again.

A transition leads to a stop in the action of the bullfight where the matador (a solo violin) and the bull (a solo cello) “discuss” the situation.

Then the fight gradually picks up again and the theme is restated. The exciting castanet-like rhythm brings the fight to an end. (2:27) Grade 2.