The Black Cat, Op. 13 (2019)

• Instrumentation: Symphonic Band

• Level: Grade 4

• Duration: About 7:00

• Key Signatures: Concert D Minor, No Key Signature, Concert D Minor

Score/Parts PDF Previews

• Only selected pages of the score/parts are available for preview.

• The Black Cat - Score (8.5x11) PDF

• The Black Cat - Score (11x17) PDF

• The Black Cat - Parts PDF

Program Notes

The Black Cat is a piece about my cat, Béla. One evening, I was sitting beside a campfire behind my apartment when I suddenly heard a cat meowing behind me. I turned around to find a beautiful black cat with striking green eyes. He slowly made his way toward me, climbed into my lap, and fell asleep. He didn't belong to any of the neighbors, and when no one claimed him after I brought him to the Humane Society, I decided to adopt him and named him Béla, after Béla Lugosi, the Hungarian-American actor best known for playing Count Dracula in the 1931 film Dracula.

Béla is a playful, curious, and frisky cat who spends most of his time sleeping near me while I work in my studio. His mischievous side makes its way into the the piece as the music becomes increasingly eerie and tonally ambiguous. This middle section builds to a moment when trills dart back and forth across the ensemble, evoking the little "kitty butt wiggle" cats do right before they pounce. The final section continues to play with Béla's michievous side, moving back and forth between moments of playful energy and unpredictable pounces. This piece is simply a musical portrait of Béla, the black cat.

• Instrumentation

  • Flutes 1, 2

  • Oboe

  • Bassoons 1, 2

  • Clarinets in Bb 1-3

  • Bass Clarinet

  • Contrabass Clarinet

  • Alto Saxophones 1, 2

  • Tenor Saxophone

  • Baritone Saxophone

  • Trumpets in Bb 1-3

  • Horns in F 1-4

  • Trombones 1, 2

  • Bass Trombone

  • Euphonium (T.C. part included; not shown in score)

  • Tuba

  • Double Bass

  • Bass Drum

  • Wind Chimes; Tambourine

  • Suspended Cymbal; Low Tom-Tom

  • Tam-tam; Flexatone

  • Glockenspiel

  • Xylophone

  • Marimba

  • Timpani

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