Ben Wahlund is an educator and composer based in Illinois. This work draws inspiration from Three Dances by Warren Benson, while incorporating a more contemporary style and interpretation. Preparing this piece proved to be both engaging and rewarding, as its intricacies became more approachable with time, leading to increased confidence in performance.

“In the first dance, ‘Discrete in Dance,’ non-parallel rhythms flare up in urgent waves, reminiscent of Delecluse or Zibkovic, and exhibit augmented versions of the original Cretan Dance, in a style like that of Gonzalo Rubalcaba. The second dance, ‘Afreaux Trot,’ is loosely based on an Afro-Cuban 12/8 pattern, which replaces the original two-beat feel. Great care was taken to employ the same neo-baroque invention form that the original held, but still provide a truncated version of Afro-Cuban rhythm (a “faux” version, if you will.) The third dance, ‘Fawn,’ departs from the traditional Fandango but the popular stick on stick component is still intact. A rock feel is employed in its place.”

– Ben Wahlund