Chopsuey! Benjamin Yeo

Chopsuey! is a scherzo ('joke') with a whirlwind of musical clichés that bring to mind the heritage of America, elements of Chinese culture, and also music written for the versatile clarinet, beloved in many musical genres. Many absurd stereotypes are like "Chopsuey" - a dish made popular by Chinese take-out restaurants all over America but which in fact does not exist in Chinese cuisine at all, ironically making it very American indeed. I hope that when listeners giggle at the recognizable bits they remember that stereotypes are often false representations of reality. While we may all be guilty of them from time to time, they should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt so that we can enjoy, with open hearts and minds, the wonders and experiences that the infinite variety of nations, places, cultures and music can bring to our lives.