🇺🇸Samuel Barber ： Souvenirs Hesitation Tango Op.28-5

The fifth piece from Souvenirs, “Hesitation Tango” is a miniature that combines a rhythmic character suggestive of tango with the hesitation and wavering implied by its title. Crisp gestures, moments that seem to pause, and changes in dynamics and accents give the music a sense of humor and stylish charm. A key point in listening is the contrast between the character of each passage while maintaining an awareness of the overall flow. Rather than making the rhythm mechanically uniform, performers should clarify rests and accents, allowing the melody to emerge from the inner voices and accompaniment. This brings out both the lightness of the dance character and its nuanced expressiveness.