Danzon Cubano

Along with El Salón México, Danzón Cubano, based on Latin American folk tunes, became a model for composers using Latin American materials. Based on the danzón, a stately Cuban dance, Danzón Cubano is in two contrasting sections. Copland wrote, "I did not attempt to reproduce an authentic Cuban sound but felt free to add my own touches of displaced accents and unexpected silent beats." The original version for two pianos has been superseded in popularity by the composer's orchestral arrangement which employs Cuban rhythms played by an interesting battery of percussion.

-Vivian Perlis, 1998