A Danzon Done my Way – Ivette Herryman Rodriguez

PROGRAM NOTE

Un danzón a mi manera (A Danzón Done my Way) was written for
Michigan State University’s Concert Orchestra, which brings together a
mix of students whose major is music and others who major in different
careers other than music.

The work departs from the Cuban musical genre danzón, which is
a dance. The form of a danzón can be understood as an evolutionary
process in itself. It starts with a slow introduction called paseo, in which the
dancers are walking and relating to each other as in a conversation. The
main theme is played next alternating with other themes as the danzón
progresses. The final section, which was added some years after the genre
had been conceived, is called mambo. This section presents a riff that is
repeated in the form of an estribillo. Its tempo is slightly faster and
rhythmic activity takes prominence.

Keeping in mind the structure of a dazón, I gave myself two
goals with the composition of this piece. My first goal was to have two
coexisting contrasting harmonic worlds. On the one hand, the first
harmonic world is a resemblance of the conservative and traditional,
emulating the idea of the danzón as an “old” genre. In this harmonic
world, tonal centers can be easily identified. The second harmonic world,
on the other hand, relies on dissonances intended to disrupt the flow of

the traditional harmonic world. My second goal was to play with the tempo

of the piece, starting moderately slow and increasing the speed gradually

as the work unfolds to end with a fast tempo.

Lastly, I have a personal desire with this work, which is to provide a
space for the orchestra to ENJOY as they play music that is to be
performed in a concert hall. This desire is inspired by performances given
by the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra from Venezuela, the joy that
characterizes Latin American people, and the fact that the danzón

is intrinsically a dance form. The final section of Un danzón a mi manera was
particularly composed with these in mind. I wrote down several solos that
alternate with the rest of the orchestra in an antiphonal way, which
resembles the Cuban son and salsa. I see these solos as a glance into the
virtuosity that performers of popular Cuban music can display. Finally,
syncopated riffs were given to the rest of the orchestra so that they could

also participate in what I imagined to be a “symphonic party.”

—Ivette Herryman-Rodríguez

Video of recent performance by Rutgers University – Sinfonia, November 12th, 2023.

Herryman – Un Danzón a mi manera (Perusal Score)

Price: Conductor Score and Parts $155. Conductor Score only: $35.