En Clave

Instrumentation: violin, viola, cello, clarinet and piano
Duration: ~5:00
Written for American Chamber Ensemble
Performed on October 12, 2025

Program Note:

En Clave is the first piece in a series of concert works exploring the rhythmic pattern of the clave. The clave is a rhythmic cell of African origin that became the heartbeat of much of Cuban and Brazilian music, which later went on to influence more branches of Latin music. The clave is more than a repeating figure: it is an organizing principle, guiding direction, balance, and phrasing within rhythm. There are two basic types of clave directions: 2-3 and 3-2.

This work unfolds in two continuous movements: a prelude and fugue. “Preludio Ritmico” (“Rhythmic Prelude”) introduces the forward momentum of the 2-3 clave, grounding listeners in its pulse and direction. “Fuga y Tumbao” (“Fugue and Tumbao”) blends the European counterpoint tradition with the accentual stresses dictated by the 2-3 clave direction, gradually unfolding into a tumbao––the groove (usually led by the bass player) that drives so much Afro-Latin music. This work playfully weaves together two traditions––the contrapuntal rigor of the fugue and the rhythmic vitality of the Afro-Latin clave––allowing them to be in dialogue with one another.