I. Mambo II. Bolero (Cuban) III. Paso Doble IV. Samba
Suite of Latin Dances These dance movements are my interpretation of some of the more popular Latin dance styles and patterns. All rhythms are to be performed straight...do not swing any of the rhythm patterns. Aim to get the eighth note and sixteenth note rhythms as accurate as possible. 1st mov't - I suggest that you do this Mambo at quarter note = 120. The downbeat of each bar at the beginning of a phrase should be heavy and legato and then throughout the remainder of each 4 bar phrase there is a strong interplay between the last eighth note of each bar with the downbeat that follows. Accent the syncopated rhythms as marked. The feeling to this is not light at all...but quite heavy (reflected in the downbeat of every 1s t and 3rd bars in particular) Mambo is defined as: "... a repeating section of a song, also known as montuno. It is often mistaken for a specific type of rhythm or song form. The dance done during this part of the music also became known as the mambo." 2nd mov't - This is a Cuban Bolero which is usually written using a 2 beat bar....I have decided to write in 4..... This is a sedate, suggestive dance. Pick a tempo in the quarter note = 80 to 90 range. I think the slower tempo works better for performing the triplets with full extension. The down beat should be a little heavier than the syncopated rhythms 3rd mov`t - This Paso Doble is meant to be flashy. Think of a matador strutting around with his chest puffed out doffing his 3-cornered hat and flourishing his cape...quite military in some respects. Maintain an absolutely rigid tempo. Show off a little! Stylistic Note Both the Bolero or Paso Doble styles can be played in duple or triple meter. ...(ask a drummer who is expert in Latin American music). 4th Mov`t - The Samba is the quickest of the dances. If you can go at quarter = 200...great! Try to feel it in 2 beats in a bar...you should get to the point where you are not reading the rhythms but feeling them...it`s rhythmically repetitive (as all Latin music is), so you should be able to do that. Follow the articulation markings...they will feel natural after a while. Think quick and light...not fast.