Cantilena has a song-like quality which the performer should try to convey, while the Rigadoon is a moderately fast dance movement, both arranged here together for contra clarinet with piano accompaniment. In the case of this Cantilena and Rigadoon, the solo part fit so well into the range of the clarinet, it only made sense to keep the solo part the same for each instrument (contrabass and contralto) and to transpose the piano part. Thus, a single solo part is included, as well as two separate piano parts, corresponding to the contrabass clarinet (in B-flat) and contralto clarinet (in E-flat).

This work can be played with either a contrabass or contralto clarinet.