THE BENSON DANCES

for Solo Snare Drum BEN WAHLUND

(to Warren Benson in the form of his masterwork, "Three Dances")

I. Discrete in Dance
SNARES OFF:
Spirited = 132 ( = 264)
*Right Stick on Left


5 5 5 5
Near Edge

of Drum

Center of Drum
mf RLRRL RLRRLRLRRL

3 3 3 3 3

3 5 3 5

fp mf mf R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L

3 3 3 3 3

5 3 3

L R L R L R L R R L R ff mf dim. - - - -
molto

3 3 3 3 3






- - - - - - - - - - - - - pp ff

3 3 3 3 3

Hold sticks loosely to ring 3

p f

5 5 5 5


mf
left hand (alone) "buzz" stroke

3 3 5 3 3 5
z


fp R R L R R L L R L R R L R R L R R L L R L R R L R L R R L R L R R L
f p f p f

5 5 5 5


R L R R L R L R R L R L R R L L R L R R L R L R R L L R L R R L R L R L R L R L R L R LR
p sempre

3 3

L R LRL R LRL R LRL R LLRRL RRLLR LLRRL R L

*Hold left stick at chest height, over drum, and strike with right stick
 5
2 5


5 5



ff
= 198
( = )



R L L R L L R L R L R R L R R L R L R L

3 3 3 3
3 3

R R L R R L R L R L R L R L R L R R L R L L R L R L R L R L RL
p f

mf mp p

mf p cresc. poco a poco

mf cresc. poco a poco

3 3 3 3

ff
dim. al fine - - - -

non rit.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - pppp

II. Afreaux Trot

SNARES ON: = 60



R.H. Stick Tip on Rim


L.H. Brush on Head mf

2 2 2 2 2





 Pull brush
2
2 4
4

3 around head






2 2 2 2
p

mf


mf

Rub stick on rim


Shoulder Tip








f
2 2

2 2



Center Edge Sweep brush back and forth

mp On head, near rim

mf

4



mp Brush struck in
center of head ff

4 4 4 4
( = )


ff






accel. Rimshot - striking head and rim simultaneously
3




3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
mf mp


3 mf mp pp
3 3
3 3 3
A tempo ( = ) Shoulder of stick on rim

Tip of stick on rim

pp
2 2
 III. Fawn
4
SNARES ON: With Abandon ( = 198 - 216)

Hold sticks loosely to ring

R. Stick on L. Stick in Air


Normal

*Stick tap
f

R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R R L R L L R L RR L L L L

*


pp mp pp p

sympathetic rebound(s) caused by R.H. primary stroke in conjunction

with slight pressure downward of L.H. stick on drumhead

ff

Rimshot

from edge to center


sfz p sfz p sfz p

sfz p R L R R L R L L sfz p sfz p sfz p sfz p sffz pp
sfz sfz

p mp

R L R L R L R L R L R L R L RR L R L L R L RR L L f L L L L
mf
*Stick Tap: Place left stick on head as in closed roll hand position. Allow stick to rebound freely as right stick tip hits left stick on shoulder (about 3-5 inches from tip.) Adjust to achieve 2:1 ratio
 R.H. Rimshots (w/ L.H. striking in center) 5

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3






sfz p sfz sfz mf sfz
Dead tone to ring.
(Hands close, moving to tips.)

i.e. loosen grip


sfz p sfz sffz p subito cresc. - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ff pp

1/15/09 Aurora, Illinois, USA