Cape Cod Files by Paquito D’Rivera (Walter Yee, Leigh McAllister)

Performed at my graduate recital, December 2021

My dear friend and talented clarinetist, Walter Yee, introduced me to these “files”. Composed in 2009 and premiered nearby in Cotuit, MA~we had to give it a shot :) copied below are the composer’s notes.



Composer's Notes
Composed by Paquito D'Rivera for clarinetist Jon Manasse and pianist Jon Nakamatsu

0:00 Benny @ 100
Inspired by Benny Goodman’s unique way of jazz phrasing, as well as his incursion in the so-called “classical” arena, this movement is a celebration of the most famous clarinetist’s 100th birthday.

6:18 Bandoneon
An Argentinean Milonga that recreates the nostalgic sound of the exotic instrument that in the opinion of many, represents the very soul of the Tango.

12:47 Lecuonerías
Unaccompanied solo clarinet improvisations around some of the melodies written by the foremost of the Cuban composers, pianist extraordinaire Ernesto Lecuona.

17:55 Chiquita Blues
Using elements of the American 12 bar blues, as well as traditional Cuban Danzón and contemporary atonal music, the final movement of The Cape Cod Files was inspired by Antonio Orlando Rodríguez’s novel “Chiquita,” based on the life of a 26 inch tall Cuban Lilliputian singer and actress who achieved great success in New York at the end of the IXX, beginning of the XX century.