Composers Inspired by Their Pets
Many of us who own pets consider them to be an important part of our lives. Not only do we arrange our schedule around their needs but enjoy their companionship and acceptance. I was surprised when researching this post that several famous composers were influenced by their pets. As a result of that influence their animals have been immortalized within the following musical compositions.
Frederic Chopin composed Waltz in F Major (Op. 32, No. 3) in honour of the cat Valdeck owned by his lady love, Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin. She was better known by her pen name – George Sand. The instances of her cat running across his piano keys inspired this composition nicknamed the Cat Waltz.
Chopin was also inspired by the little dog, Marquis that Amantine also owned. When she watched her dog run in circles chasing his tail she told Chopin, “If I had your talent I would compose a piano piece for this dog.” The resulting composition is known as the famous “Minute Waltz” and Chopin nicknamed this piece the “Little Dog Waltz.”
Composer Domenico Scarlatti was inspired by his cat Pulcinella and was the original creator of the Fugue in G minor – The Cat’s Fugue. When Pulcinella walked across the keys she played “G, B-Flat, E-Flat, F-Sharp, B-Flat and C-Sharp” in an ascending pattern. This became the theme for the rest of the Fugue.
And now for something completely different. Here is the “Duetto buffo di due gatti” or the “Humorous duet for two cats” as a final selection . It was written by Gioachino Rossini and Robert Lucas de Pearsall in 1825 and was not necessarily inspired by pets. However the performance of this piece is highly popular with audiences and just consists of just one word of lyrics: “Miau” or “Meow”. The two singers verbally spar before they sound as though they share a saucer of milk together peacefully.