This is the video of the original performance of Lithuanian composer, Mindaugas Piečaitis’ composition titled “CATcerto”. He used the YouTube sensation, Nora the Piano Cat’s improvised piano playing to compose the music for a full chamber orchestra.
He integrates Nora’s piano playing into his composition cleverly and elegantly. It works well to my surprise. It is a bit discordant which gives it a jazz-like, modern touch.
Nora is listed as the soloist. At 3:01 minutes into the video the orchestra ‘meows’ as if they are conversing with Nora.
My thanks to Brant Wilson for telling me about this video. He is an amateur musician and student (at 2018) in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mindaugas Piečaitis
This performance made Mindaugas Piečaitis famous. It was performed on 5 June 2009, by the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra. Klaipėda is Piecaitis’ hometown. Wikipedia tells me that Piečaitis was born in Vilnius and graduated from its M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts in 1987.
I will presume that he likes cats. I don’t know if he lives with a cat. It is quite likely that he does.
Nora
Nora, the piano playing cat is a grey tabby. She was rescued from the streets of Camden, New Jersey by an animal shelter; Furrever Friends. She became internationally famous because of this YouTube viral video. The version on this page was first aired on July 7, 2009. I think she first played the piano in a video 2007. Her playing has been described by The Times as “something halfway between Philip Glass and free jazz”.
She was adopted by musicians and artists Burnell Yow! (Yes, that is his name as I understand it) and Betsy Alexander. Nora was given her name after the surrealist artist Leonora Carrington.
Nora first demonstrated her piano playing talent when she climbed onto the bench in front of a Yamaha Disklavier piano and began to play. She has not stopped since. She was born on September 10, 2004, which makes her 18. A good age.
Turkish orchestra musicians respect a domestic cat who adds to the occasion
Veterinary clinics should have custom-made cat and dog music playing in the background
