Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 24 - Cats
This week our theme is cats. We will have big cats, domestic cats, fictional cats and even a real cat.
Monday August 24
Carnival of the animals - Introduction and Lion
You may remember Bryan's Safari Walk, the fourth movement of his Zimbabwe Suite, in which he cleverly illustrated 5 types of animal including the lion. Camille Saint-Saëns wrote his collection of animals somewhat earlier, in 1886. There are 14 movements and today we feature the brief introduction followed by the Royal March of the Lion. Possibly the most well-known movement of 'Carnival' is that of The Swan which was choreographed in 1905 into a short ballet, made famous by Anna Pavlova.
But for today, let's stick with a big cat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r52dbwr5ZSc
Tuesday August 25
The Aristocats - Everybody wants to be a cat
Made in 1970 by Disney, this remains one of my favourite cartoon films.
And this song is one of the highlights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rrXR6n0RTY
Lady and the Tramp - The Siamese cat song
This film was made in 1955 and is another classic Disney production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlQYqQs0R3w
Wednesday August 26
The Philosopher's Stone - Cat duet
I am indebted to Bryan for introducing me to this one.
This opera (in German: Der Stein der Weisen) was composed and premiered in 1790.
Although it is not certain, the piece has been attributed to Mozart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH3yzGc3WCk
Thursday August 27
CATS, the musical (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Premiered in 1981, this award winning musical retains its popularity today, despite the latest film version receiving quite a bit of criticism.
The text is based on T.S. Eliot's wonderful poetry collection, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.
Difficult to choose one song, so here are two.
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
(sung by Tonic Choir in March 2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4JWNZSVhPs
Memory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gd_ohoPzYc
Friday August 28
Cat Stevens - Morning has broken
I promised you a real cat this week and here he is.
Born Steven Georgiou, he was known for some years by the stage name, Cat Stevens. He converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam. In more recent years he has become known as Yusuf and Yusuf/Cat Stevens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X48weyESpec
Weekend August 29/30
Duetto buffo di due gatti
Translates as 'humorous duet for two cats', also known as the 'cat duet'.
The piece is often attributed to Rossini but it was not actually written by him.
It was compiled by Robert Lucas de Pearsall (pseudonym: G Berthold) using material from Rossini's opera, Otello.
Although originally written for two sopranos, the piece is a popular duet for any two voices.
It depicts a conversation between two cats who don't appear to like each other very much.
Two recordings for you.
The first features Felicity Lott and Ann Murray at the BBC Proms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMngXo9B_Vg
The second is a classic performance by our very own Bryan Kesselman and Polly Burford.
https://youtu.be/e9hbKjWkEJc
Carnival of the animals - Introduction and Lion
You may remember Bryan's Safari Walk, the fourth movement of his Zimbabwe Suite, in which he cleverly illustrated 5 types of animal including the lion. Camille Saint-Saëns wrote his collection of animals somewhat earlier, in 1886. There are 14 movements and today we feature the brief introduction followed by the Royal March of the Lion. Possibly the most well-known movement of 'Carnival' is that of The Swan which was choreographed in 1905 into a short ballet, made famous by Anna Pavlova.
But for today, let's stick with a big cat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r52dbwr5ZSc
Tuesday August 25
The Aristocats - Everybody wants to be a cat
Made in 1970 by Disney, this remains one of my favourite cartoon films.
And this song is one of the highlights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rrXR6n0RTY
Lady and the Tramp - The Siamese cat song
This film was made in 1955 and is another classic Disney production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlQYqQs0R3w
Wednesday August 26
The Philosopher's Stone - Cat duet
I am indebted to Bryan for introducing me to this one.
This opera (in German: Der Stein der Weisen) was composed and premiered in 1790.
Although it is not certain, the piece has been attributed to Mozart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH3yzGc3WCk
Thursday August 27
CATS, the musical (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Premiered in 1981, this award winning musical retains its popularity today, despite the latest film version receiving quite a bit of criticism.
The text is based on T.S. Eliot's wonderful poetry collection, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.
Difficult to choose one song, so here are two.
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
(sung by Tonic Choir in March 2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4JWNZSVhPs
Memory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gd_ohoPzYc
Friday August 28
Cat Stevens - Morning has broken
I promised you a real cat this week and here he is.
Born Steven Georgiou, he was known for some years by the stage name, Cat Stevens. He converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam. In more recent years he has become known as Yusuf and Yusuf/Cat Stevens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X48weyESpec
Weekend August 29/30
Duetto buffo di due gatti
Translates as 'humorous duet for two cats', also known as the 'cat duet'.
The piece is often attributed to Rossini but it was not actually written by him.
It was compiled by Robert Lucas de Pearsall (pseudonym: G Berthold) using material from Rossini's opera, Otello.
Although originally written for two sopranos, the piece is a popular duet for any two voices.
It depicts a conversation between two cats who don't appear to like each other very much.
Two recordings for you.
The first features Felicity Lott and Ann Murray at the BBC Proms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMngXo9B_Vg
The second is a classic performance by our very own Bryan Kesselman and Polly Burford.
https://youtu.be/e9hbKjWkEJc