De Alba - Pen Pen de Sarapen

Pen Pen de Sarapen, Concertino for Clarinet and Wind Band (2026)

5’30

Grade 3-4

Pen Pen de Sarapen is inspired by the Filipino nursery rhyme of the same name, a playful counting song often used by children to decide who will be “it” in a game. Much like the English rhyme “eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” the song is built from rhythmic, nonsensical syllables that children chant while sitting in a circle, pointing to each participant until the final word selects the chosen player. Despite its simplicity, the tune carries the joyful spontaneity and imagination that characterize childhood play.

This concertino transforms the familiar melody into a series of imaginative variations for clarinet and wind band. At times lighthearted and whimsical, and at others unexpectedly grand, the music expands the simple rhyme into a colorful musical journey. The clarinet takes on the role of storyteller, guiding the ensemble through playful exchanges, virtuosic passages, and moments of lyrical reflection that evoke the boundless creativity of children at play.

Written for the Rhode Island Recording Ensemble, Pen Pen de Sarapen was conceived with young wind band musicians in mind. The work aims to expand the repertoire for a soloist with a developing wind ensemble while creating opportunities for student performers to share the stage with a professional musician. In this way, the piece celebrates collaboration across generations and reflects a simple but powerful idea: the future of music rests in the hands of the next generation.