"El Cid" musically portrays the thrilling adventures and conquests of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a nobleman and military leader in medieval Spain. This rewarding work uses an infectious Spanish rhythmic ostinato (3+3, 2+2+2 in 3/4 time) that undergirds the main theme, driving the piece as it builds. Ample percussion, including an important tambourine part, contributes to the Spanish feel.