About this Piece

The word “toque” in Spanish means “touch” and is used not just for physical touch, but also to signify playing an instrument, playing a game, sounding an alarm, or giving something a finishing touch. This composition is inspired by a famous Cuban dance tune (or danzón) called “Almendra,” which means “almond” in English. “Almendra” was composed in 1938 by the Cuban bandleader Abelardito Valdés. Tania León explains that this tune is so well-known that a Cuban needs to hear only two notes of it to recognize the piece. Danzón is the official dance music of Cuba and is based on European ballroom dancing. It is elegant and virtuosic and generally has a light and sprightly feel.