American Standard for Clarinet and Piano by Michael Kaulkin. Swirly Music, 1994, SS, 16 + 7 pages. Originally written for British clarinetist Peter Furniss, this single-movement work has an overtly theatrical aspect, harkening back to the composer's spiritual home in musical theater. A dialogue is established between two contrasting but thematically related sections. The slow, lyrical, aching theme heard at the outset becomes interspersed with a second that is more mischievous, even grotesque in character. Constant development of this faster material provides a means of pushing forward with considerable virtuosity to the composition's rather resigned conclusion, where both themes (and moods) are finally juxtaposed. An advanced work with a duration of about 9 minutes. (C0934)