Three Dances for Solo Snare Drum

Warren Benson

General Info

Year: 1961
Publisher: Chappell
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: 00:04:45
Cost: Score and Parts - $3.95   |   Score Only - $0.00

Movements

1. Cretan Dance
2. Fox Trot
3. Fandango

Instrumentation

Snare Drum

Program Notes

dedicated to the composer's drum teacher, Selwyn Alvey

Warren Benson's Three Dances for Solo Snare Drum is considered a standard in concert snare drum literature. This solo is appropriate for state and college auditions for high school and early university students. Each dance is stylistically different.

1. Cretan Dance involves the use of snares turned off and stick clicks to create a folky sound.

2. Fox Trot has a very old-school jazz flavor, using brushes throughout.

3. Fandango is somewhat of a march, featuring the old 'smack the stick to roll' stick trick.

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Solo

The Red Lion - Vibraphone; with piano
Three Dances for Solo Snare Drum - Snare Drum

Percussion Ensemble

Streams (Benson) - 7 Players
Three Pieces for Percussion Quartet - 4 Players
Trio for Percussion - (Benson) - 3 Players
Winter Bittersweet - 6 Players

With Other Instruments

Canon - Hand Drum with tuba
Concertino for Flute, Strings and Percussion - Multiple Percussion with flute (solo) and strings
How do I Love Thee - Marimba with soprano
Largo Tah - Marimba with bass trombone
Nara - Percussion Duo with soprano; flute; piano
Polyphony for Percussion - Percussion Quartet with wind ensemble
Songs for the End of the World - Marimba; with horn; cello; English horn; mezzo-soprano
Symphony for Drums and Wind Orchestra - Percussion Sextet with Wind Ensemble
Thorgard's Song - Percussion Ensemble with horn