A Brilliant Idea: Concerto for Nora (the Cat) and Orchestra
Composer and Conductor Mindaugas Piecaitis in Lithuania had an idea. Why not build an orchestral accompaniment around the now-famous YouTube video of Nora the Piano Cat? The result is a brilliant, if sometimes quirky piece of music that gently and playfully interacts with the cat video.
Despite the title ‘CATcerto’, this is actually a sensitive and at times contemplative piece, and shows just what a composer can do, how they can make some interesting compositional choices in response to almost random events, and make sense of it all. As Igor Stravinsky once said: “The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one’s self. And the arbitrariness of the constraint serves only to obtain precision of execution.”
We now live in an Internet-connected world, where digital video, composers and chamber orchestras can all somehow blend into something that’s…well, Art. I’m all for it.
6 Comments
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laura — July 20, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
I love this. I fully support this kind of art form.
And I will admit it that its kind of inspired me to do a little composing of my own.
Highly ingenious.
Its just what I needed to see.
Thanks
Joan Vermette — July 20, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
That made my evening; thank you!
David Drucker — July 20, 2009 @ 8:01 pm
You’re both welcome. It certainly made my day.
Jani Quay — July 24, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
That is simply brilliant. So many elements involved – creative video editing combined with composition. As a music teacher, I would love to use this as a listening piece to have students identify the introduction and restatement of themes.
Ronald Lee — July 25, 2009 @ 12:21 am
Cool. I was waiting for the cat to start playing the piano, but gave up half way. Still, I like watching videos of cats.
Gianni bainchi — September 25, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
I love music,I love cats,I love you!!!