— Not related to Gershwin‘s song and without question mark, please. Shall We Dance is “a sensuous, but serious work”, according to the composer. Perhaps Helps‘ Magnum Opus for solo piano, this sumptuous, nostalgic piece is open to a broad number of emotional interpretations that make equal sense due to its strength of form, as in Chopin‘s Ballades.
Dedicatee Russell Sherman remarked it contains qualities of Wagner’s "Tristan" and Hoagy Carmichael in equal measure. Its exquisite pianism makes it all "hurt so good".
Helps at Holiday Villas III in Clearwater, Florida where Shall We Dance was composed.
Duration: 12 minutes
An example of the sensuous craft of Shall We Dance. From the manuscript facsimile, pg. 13Listen to Shall We Dance played by Dorothée D’Ildeaux
