Nora The Piano Cat
Time to let the world know I have your support as I move toward the Oval Office, grand piano in tow.
You can get your very own “Nora For President” tee by clicking the link below. Other styles and colors available. Buttons and stickers, too.
I know what it’s like to accomplish something wonderful, and the Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats is my choice for this very first “Paw Up” appreciation from a cat who, though never feral herself, has a sibling who is. I have been referred to as “bossy” and “possessive of my piano,” but that’s a whole other story. You can check out the amazing work of Kitty Bungalow at <http://kittybungalow.org>. On Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/kittybungalowcharmschool/ Tell ’em Nora sent you.
We all know how important art and music are in making the world a better place for all creatures, great and small. I’ve certainly tried to do my part and, in doing, I’ve collaborated with some amazing humans along the way. One of them is my purrsonal assistant, Betsy Alexander. In addition to providing me with a loving home, a piano, and plenty of encouragement, she is also a marvelous composer with a big heart when it comes to empathy and concern for others.
So it was quite natural for her to be moved by a recent project by a friend of hers, artist Meg Saligman, who has created an interactive installation called “Mary, Undoer of Knots” in honor of the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia. And when Betsy is moved, inspiration and action soon follow, this time resulting in the song, Help Us Mary, which is delighting and even moving to tears all who hear it.
A demo recording of the song with words and music by BetsyAlexander, vocals by Donnie Hammond, and produced by Dan Martin can be heard on Betsy’s website at <http://betsyswonderfulthings.com>.
More info about Meg Saligman’s project “Mary, Undoer of Knots.”
To my freedom-loving fans and friends: Do you care about censorship of information online? There’s a new internet anti-censorship movement afoot. Or should I say “apaw”? It’s called The Pussy Cat Riot <http://thepussycatriot.org/>. It’s cat-inspired, so it naturally caught my eye. But even my fur-challenged friends might like to check it out.
Supposedly for “security reasons,” Facebook recently blocked my Facebook profile page. So, at the moment (perhaps forever) it is not accessible. If you have tried to go there, please know that Burnell has created an FB Page (confusing, I know) for me at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nora-The-Piano-Cat. Seems Facebook may not like the fact that a cat has a personal profile. But they don’t mind me having a Page created by a fan, in this case, Burnell. Well, I suppose there is no use crying over spilt cream.
If you want to “Like” my new Page, please go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nora-The-Piano-Cat and click the “Like” button. Then bookmark the page and go there for the latest day-to-day scoop on me, Nora The Piano Cat. Of course, my website is also a great place to check out for all the bigger events of my life.
It’s all about the mewsic,
Nora
Well, not a cat toy exactly. More like a man toy. I love a feather on a string. Burnell loves software. Go figure! So, he recently bought something called “Blog Collage,” which is used (so I’m told) to quickly create groupings (collages) of photos for, you guessed it, blogs. The one above is his first one, and of course he chose me as the subject. And why not? Do the words personal assistant mean anything to you? Everything Burnell has or will have he owes equally to my good graces and, I admit, to his stellar performance as a PA. I hope you like the collage. I have the feeling you’ll be seeing more of them.
Mindaugas Piecaitis, composer of CATcerto, which was inspired by my piano playing and features me as guest soloist via a video screen, created a piano score of the Main Themes from CATcerto. And here’s a video of Clemens Kummer, a student of Piecaitis, playing the piano piece. If you enjoy it, please consider leaving a comment on YouTube and sharing it with your friends.
I just love to receive mail from my many friends and fans. The image below is from a card sent to me by Anne M. from the Philadelphia area. No doubt she was inspired to pick this particular card by my recent “collaboration” with the Conductor/Composer Mindaugas Piecaitis. You can read more about that collaboration at the following links (#1 link also includes a video from the Balticum News):
Nora/Mindaugas Collaboration Link #1 • Link #2 • Link #3
The image on the card is Copyright © Cindy Pitts/Archive Photos-Getty Images. I hope I don’t get in trouble for posting it here, but it was such a cute card. The card company’s URL is www.avantipress.com.
Here’s a Balticum News presentation on the “CATcerto” composed and conducted by Mindaugas Piecaitis with me (Nora the Piano Cat) as soloist. The video, which includes interviews with Piecaitis and orchestra members, now has English subtitles. A video of the entire performance is being prepared for release.