Masquerade takes its name from a small cabaret bar in Liverpool, well known for its drag acts, and is a brief glimpse into the dramatic and colourful world of Liverpool drag queens. Throughout there are echos of disco music, jazz and club anthems - the soundworlds that I associate strongly with this bar, as well as extended pedals on A and Bb that explore the lowest register of the basset clarinet. Masquerade is scored for basset clarinet and piano and is dedicated to Mark Simpson.