Katzenklavier
Encyclopedia
A cat organ or cat piano (Katzenklavier in German) is a musical instrument
which consists of a line of cat
s fixed in place with their tails stretched out underneath a keyboard so that cats cry out in pain when a key is pressed. The cats would be arranged according to the natural tone of their voices.
This instrument was described by the French writer Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin
in his book Musiciana, extraits d’ouvrages rare ou bizarre (Musiciana, descriptions of rare or bizarre inventions):
The instrument was described by Athanasius Kircher
in his work Musurgia Universalis.
The instrument was described by German physician Johann Christian Reil
(1759–1813) for the purpose of treating patients who had lost the ability to focus their attention. Reil believed that if they were forced to see and listen to this instrument, it would inevitably capture their attention and they would be cured (Richards, 1998).
The instrument was recreated using squeaky toys by Henry Dagg
for a garden party
held at Clarence House
in 2010 by Prince Charles to support his Start
initiative for sustainable living. The tune "Over the Rainbow
" was played and caused great amusement.
The People's Republic Of Animation
, a professional animation studio, released an animation titled The Cat Piano
. This work tells the tale of a city of cats whose musicians are kidnapped by a human in order to make a cat piano. This short film has received several awards, as well as nominations for awards. The Academy announced that it was shortlisted for an Oscar for Best Animated Short. However, it was not nominated.
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
which consists of a line of cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s fixed in place with their tails stretched out underneath a keyboard so that cats cry out in pain when a key is pressed. The cats would be arranged according to the natural tone of their voices.
Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin
Jean-Baptiste Théodore Weckerlin or Wekerlin was an Alsatian French composer and music publisher.-Biography:...
in his book Musiciana, extraits d’ouvrages rare ou bizarre (Musiciana, descriptions of rare or bizarre inventions):
When the King of Spain Felipe IIPhilip II of SpainPhilip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
was in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1549 visiting his father the Emperor Charles V, each saw the other rejoicing at the sight of a completely singular procession. At the head marched an enormous bull whose horns were burning, between which there was also a small devil. Behind the bull a young boy sewn into a bear skin ride on a horse whose ears and tail were cut off. Then came the archangel Saint Michael in bright clothing, and carrying a balance in his hand.
The most curious was on a chariot that carried the most singular music that can be imagined. It held a bear that played the organ; instead of pipes, there were sixteen cat heads each with its body confined; the tails were sticking out and were held to be played as the strings on a piano, if a key was pressed on the keyboard, the corresponding tail would be pulled hard, and it would produce each time a lamentable meow. The historian Juan Christoval Calvete, noted the cats were arranged properly to produce a succession of notes from the octave... (chromatically, I think).
This abominable orchestra arranged itself inside a theatre where monkeys, wolves, deer and other animals danced to the sounds of this infernal music.
The instrument was described by Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who published around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology, and medicine...
in his work Musurgia Universalis.
The instrument was described by German physician Johann Christian Reil
Johann Christian Reil
Johann Christian Reil was a German physician, physiologist, anatomist and psychiatrist. He coined the term psychiatry or, in German, Psychiatrie in 1808....
(1759–1813) for the purpose of treating patients who had lost the ability to focus their attention. Reil believed that if they were forced to see and listen to this instrument, it would inevitably capture their attention and they would be cured (Richards, 1998).
Henry Dagg
Henry Dagg is a sound sculptor who formerly worked as a sound engineer for the BBC. His works include a pin barrel harp or sharpsichord which was commissioned for the English Folk Dance and Song Society and a cat organ which he played to the amusement of an audience of celebrities at a garden...
for a garden party
Garden party
A garden party is a social gathering with food provided, in the open in a park or a garden. An event described as a garden party is usually more formal than other similar gatherings, which may be called just parties, picnics, barbecues, etc,...
held at Clarence House
Clarence House
Clarence House is a royal home in London, situated on The Mall, in the City of Westminster. It is attached to St. James's Palace and shares the palace's garden. For nearly 50 years, from 1953 to 2002, it was home to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, but is since then the official residence of The...
in 2010 by Prince Charles to support his Start
Start
Start can refer to multiple topics:* Takeoff, the phase of flight where an aircraft transitions from moving along the ground to flying through the air* Start date, in filmmaking* Start, Louisiana, a town in the United States...
initiative for sustainable living. The tune "Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow
"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...
" was played and caused great amusement.
The People's Republic Of Animation
The People's Republic Of Animation
The People's Republic of Animation is an animation studio based in Adelaide, Australia. Since starting out on music videos for Australian bands in 2003, The People’s Republic of Animation has grown into a highly prolific studio creating international award-winning short films, TV commercials and...
, a professional animation studio, released an animation titled The Cat Piano
The Cat Piano
The Cat Piano is an award winning animated short film directed by Eddie White and Ari Gibson and narrated by Nick Cave.-Plot:The Cat Piano is narrated by the main character of the animated short, an anthropomorphic cat. It is clear that the narration is a poem, which the poet is typing on a...
. This work tells the tale of a city of cats whose musicians are kidnapped by a human in order to make a cat piano. This short film has received several awards, as well as nominations for awards. The Academy announced that it was shortlisted for an Oscar for Best Animated Short. However, it was not nominated.
See also
- Terry JonesTerry JonesTerence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
– Monty Python's performer on the mouse organ - Marvin SuggsMarvin SuggsMarvin Suggs is a puppet musician in the world of Jim Henson's The Muppets, voiced by Frank Oz.Marvin Suggs is a blue "whatnot" Muppet that wears a frilly, multicolored shirt...
A character from the Muppet Show who plays a muppaphone
External links
- Excerpt from Richards, Robert J. "Rhapsodies on a Cat-Piano, or Johann Christian ReilJohann Christian ReilJohann Christian Reil was a German physician, physiologist, anatomist and psychiatrist. He coined the term psychiatry or, in German, Psychiatrie in 1808....
and the Foundations of Romantic Psychiatry", 1998.