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Paw to Paw: The Maestro Meets His Muse

Nora With Mindaugas

To get to the place where the photo above would become a reality, much had to happen. It all began a long time ago, well, it was actually 2009, when a Lithuaian conductor of the Klaipeda Chamber Orchestra was sent a link to a very famous video of a cat playing the piano. That conductor was Mindaugas Piecaitis. The cat, in case you haven’t already guessed, was me. Maestro Piecaitis is a brilliant human being, obviously, who saw the potential in the piano stylings of moi. And he set about composing a concerto inspired by those stylings. The result was a beautiful piece of music titled CATcerto. Clever, eh?

The piece was premiered in 2009 by the Klaipeda Chamber Orchestra with Maestro Piecaitis at the podium and me, as guest soloist, projected onto a large screen behind the musicians. It was a rousing success and was eventually published by Peter’s Publishing. To date, CATcerto has been performed 20 times by orchestras around the world. It even made it into the Guiness Book as the first concerto ever written for a cat.

Then in late 2012, Maestro and muse (that’s me) met for the very first time when Mindaugas flew to the United States and spent several days with me, my siblings, and my purrsonal assistants, Burnell and Betsy. It was during the very first moments of that meeting that Burnell took the now famous photo of our paws touching on the piano bench.

Maestro Piecaitis was heard to remark, “I feel I must be dreaming.” Truth be told, it was I who was humbled by his presence. A gray tabby rescued from the streets of Camden, New Jersey only to one day touch paws with the Maestro from halfway around the world. Of such things are not dreams made?

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You can watch the video that Mindaugas Piecaitis was inspired by HERE.
And click HERE to watch CATcerto.

Orchestras who may wish to perform the piece should contact Peter’s Publishing for the sheet music and the DVD for the projection.

Where’s Nora?

Alright, I agree that I’m much too much a star to ever really blend in. But on those rare occasions when I seek a little anonymity, I head on down to under-the-piano land and join an animal cast of characters that includes frogs, lizards, snakes, cats, fish, and even a turkey. And if I keep very, very still, even my sibling Max (with whom I have a somewhat strained relationship) may just pass right on by. So, the next time you stop over for a visit and don’t see me on the piano bench, take a look down under and if you spot me and I give a little wink, just keep walking – and tell Max that Nora has left the building.

NoraUnderPiano

Photo by Betsy Alexander.

Nora Gets Bluesy…

While it is true I have a well-deserved reputation for being a classical music diva (check out CATcerto, composed and conducted by Mindaugas Piecaitis), I also have a bluesy side and the chops to go with it, as evidenced by this blues riff I composed on the spot the other day.

Ellie Turned Two Today…

Ellie of the Cats of Raven's Wing StudioEllie is one of my siblings here at the House of Raven’s Wing. She was named after the artist Eleanor Day. She and I are not sisters in the usual sense, but we were both adopted by Burnell & Betsy – along with Max, Rennie, Clara, Gabby, and Jenny. Ellie was Jenny’s cagemate at the shelter. And you can read more about her on Burnell’s website.

And although we don’t really hang out together, I want to wish her a very Happy Birthday.

A Crowning Achievement…

Scarlett Presents CrownTo Nora (Photo credit: Betsy Alexander)Well, well, well. Today one of Betsy’s students, an absolutely brilliant girl named Scarlett, gave me a gift I can truly appreciate. She presented me with my very own, handcrafted royal crown – complete with musical notes. It’s about time someone recognized me for who I really am in spite of my humble beginnings on the streets of Camden, New Jersey. At last I will be seen as the fine aristo-cat I was always meant to be.

Move over Elizabeth. Step aside, Fergie. It’s time to prove once and for all the old adage “When it reigns, it purrs!”

HRH Duchess of Feline Music, Nora The Piano Cat