Danzas Latinoamericanas (Latin American Dances)
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Piano
- Composed
- 1997
- Duration
- 13'
- Publisher
- Composer (self-published)
Purchase or download
About this piece
A three-movement suite commissioned by and dedicated to Mexican cellist Carlos Prieto, based on dances from three countries: an Argentine tango (Otoño en Buenos Aires), a Brazilian bossa nova (Pan de Azúcar) and a Mexican jarabe (Atardecer Tapatío). The movements can be played separately. Otoño en Buenos Aires has been widely performed, including by Yo-Yo Ma, whose 2016 Munich concert DVD includes it as a cello duet with Maximilian Hornung. Elizondo offers the suite free in many versions, including unaccompanied cello, cello and guitar, cello duos, cello ensembles of 3 to 8 players, and cello with string orchestra.
Technical overview
The tango uses tenor and treble clef up to G5, double stops in thirds and sixths, mordents and grace notes, with staccato and portato articulation. The bossa nova is a long sustained line in A-flat major. The 6/8 finale needs light lifted strokes, cross-accents that make it feel like 3/4, and a short pizzicato passage.
Technical focus
- Thumb Position
- Shifting
- Double Stops
- Articulation
- Pizzicato
- Rhythm
- Accidentals
- Dynamics
- Hairpin Dynamics
- Tempo Changes
- Collaboration with Piano