The Spanish know drama. At least that was my impression from two splendid Netflix series we watched during the lockdown: Gran Hotel and Cable Girls (Las Chicas del Cable). Both are set in early 20th century Spain.

Ambition, arrogance, jealousy, spite, revenge – these darker human traits blended with compassion, hope, romance and loyalty just as ancient Spanish traditions and social structures began to clash with the modern world at that time.

The dignified “Sarabande,” a Spanish dance, channels that turmoil and majesty.  It is Etude 29 in the book of 50 classic snare drum studies I had been tackling: Portraits in Rhythm.

Composer Anthony Cirone notes the slow and stately 3/4 tempo, with heavy emphasis on the second beat of the measure. This is particularly true during the powerful theme that starts and ends the piece.

Photo credit: Nadine Wirsig

Because I had also dusted off my hi-hat, with its bright-sounding Sabian cymbals, I decided to emphasize that second-beat drama with a simple ornamentation — a controlled quarter-note crash of the two cymbals, mirroring the quarter-note snare drum roll.

Counterpoint and suspense

In contrast to the slow theme, the piece features tricky 32nd-note syncopation, some triplet counterpoint, and crescendos foreshadowing the main theme.

During practice, I couldn’t help grimace as I navigated the tough passages.  I slowed them down, and also read the rhythm in my head to try to get it right.  Likewise, I couldn’t help but smile when I hit the majestic main theme, punctuating its second beat and roll with a crash of the hi-hat.

I made a mental note to apologize to the composer for adding in the hi-hat to a pure snare solo, but felt it showed musical interpretation. That was my story and I was sticking to it.

Another heatwave had hit Toronto and the AC was not reaching my daughter’s old room on the third floor. I turned on a portable fan, felt the sweat bead on my forehead, and tried to get inside the music. With its majestic flow, the Sarabande had its origins in Central America, its popularity through the Baroque period in Europe, and interpretation well into the 20th Century by composers such as Debussy.

As I focused on the piece, I got lost in its dark Spanish drama.