Latin American Dances

This suite of four pieces is a journey through dances native to Latin America. The Joropo is popular in Venezuela and Colombia and stems from the Viennese waltz, but the 3/4 pulse is now spiced with 6/8 cross rhythms. The Habanera comes from Havana, and this particular one is obsessed with a little five-note figure initiated by the piano. Bahama Rhumba's lazy tune suggests the easy-going character of life in the Caribbean, while the Jongo is a dance brought to Brazil by the slave trade, danced collectively against an inexorable rhythmic beat.

Latin American Dances was given its first performance by Kyle Horch, acocmpanied by Pamela Lidiard, at the Purcell Room on 9th February, 2005.