Danzas Afro-Cubanas, No. 5: Danza Lucumi Cover Image

Danzas Afro-Cubanas, No. 5: Danza Lucumi: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

$70.00 USD
$70.00 USD
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Danzas Afro-Cubanas, No. 5: Danza Lucumi Cover Image
Danzas Afro-Cubanas, No. 5: Danza Lucumi: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

Danzas Afro-Cubanas, No. 5: Danza Lucumi: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

By Ernesto Lecuona / arr. Felix Guenther

Item: 36-A645790
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Danzas Afro-Cubanas, No. 5: Danza Lucumi: Full Orchestra, Condensed Score

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Description
The Cuban composer and pianist Ernesto Lecuona (1896-1963) wrote many works labelled as "Afro-Cuban," and sorting them all can be difficult. While some are lost and others are scattered about, the 1930 piano suite titled Danzas Afro-Cubanas, a collection of six of the dances, remains a core group in the style. The fifth dance in the suite, Danza Lucumí, is upbeat with a bit a strong rhythmic pulse. This version for full orchestra has been arranged by Felix Guenther (1886-1951). Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2.2.2: 3Sax(AAT): 4.3.3.1: Perc(2-4): Hp: Str (3 Vn pts[6-6-5-]-7-6-5): PF Cond in set.

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Symphonic Pops
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 659359567957
SKU: 36-A645790
Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2.2.2: 3Sax(AAT): 4.3.3.1: Perc(2-4): Hp: Str (3 Vn pts[6-6-5-]-7-6-5): PF Cond in set

More about this title

About the Composer: Ernesto Lecuona

Ernesto Lecuona (1896-1963) was a Cuban composer and pianist who became one of the most prolific and internationally recognized voices in Latin American concert music. He drew deeply from Cuban folk traditions, particularly the rhythms and colors of Afro-Cuban culture, and channeled them into large-scale orchestral works that gained popularity across Europe and North America during the early 20th century. His gift lay in making complex rhythmic and harmonic ideas feel natural and joyful, accessible to concert audiences while remaining musically substantial.

Lecuona's influence on how orchestral music engages with Cuban and Caribbean idioms remains significant in the repertoire. He demonstrated that folk-rooted material could anchor serious concert works without losing its vitality or authenticity. His orchestrations are inventive and idiomatic, written with a clear understanding of how each instrument family could carry the warmth and drive of Cuban dance traditions.

Why we love this

Danza Lucumí distills Lecuona's gift for infectious rhythm and colorful orchestration into a single, tightly constructed piece that conductors and orchestras genuinely enjoy preparing. The strong rhythmic pulse and upbeat character make it a concert staple that audiences recognize and remember, yet the writing is sophisticated enough to keep musicians engaged through rehearsal. Felix Guenther's orchestration respects Lecuona's melodic gifts while expanding the palette in ways that give every section something vital to play.

What to expect

Danza Lucumí pulses with celebratory energy and bright rhythmic vitality. The melodies are warm and memorable, the harmonies are colorful without being precious, and the orchestration sparkles with the sound of Cuban percussion traditions wedded to European concert orchestration. You hear sunshine, movement, and genuine joy throughout.

Who it's for

This orchestration works for community orchestras, youth symphonies, and advanced school orchestras with the resources to cover a full instrumentation including saxophones and harp. It's ideal for conductors seeking a crowd-pleasing work that showcases Latin American concert music and allows players across the ensemble to tackle idiomatic writing without extreme technical demands.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the rhythmic foundation early in rehearsals by locking the percussion section's patterns with the saxophone parts; these voices carry the harmonic and rhythmic identity of the piece.
  • Balance the string section's sustained lines against the brightness of the woodwinds and saxophones so neither overwhelms the ensemble sound.
  • Allow the harp to breathe in its passages rather than treating it as purely atmospheric; Lecuona wrote it to support harmonic color and rhythmic definition.
  • Maintain a steady, energetic tempo throughout; any dragging will flatten the piece's natural forward momentum and joy.

How to use it

Program this piece as a vibrant centerpiece in a concert exploring Latin American orchestral music, or pair it with other 20th-century populist works to showcase how folk traditions shaped concert repertoire. It also serves as an excellent closer or second-half opener on any general orchestral concert; audiences respond warmly to its energy and accessibility, which can reset the mood after more abstract or demanding works.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and executing syncopated rhythmic patterns across the full ensemble
  • Balancing bright, articulate wind and saxophone colors against sustained string textures
  • Responding to Latin percussion instruments and understanding their role in orchestral texture
  • Maintaining rhythmic integrity and forward momentum in pieces driven by dance rhythms rather than lyrical phrasing

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