Scarlatti's Cat

(Hardback)

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Description

A story of an animal getting the better (gently) of his human "master." This is a timeless formula.

18th- century composer Domenico Scarlatti is famous for his piano sonatas, one of which was, according to legend, inspired by the sequence created by his cat walking across his harpsichord. Lachenmeyer puts this story in context, giving the cat a personality and placing him in the context of Scarlatti's globe-trotting musical career.

Reviews

"According to legend, Domenico Scarlatti's Sonata in G Minor (generally known as the 'Cat's Fugue') was inspired by the composer's cat. This book tells the rest of the story. Pulcinella loves to listen to Scarlatti play his harpsichord, but what she really wants is to compose her own music. However, she never breaks his strict house rule--no one is allowed to touch his harpsichord. Then one day she spots a mouse in the music room and gives chase. The wild romp ends with Pulcinella falling from the drapes onto the harpsichord. She cannot resist the opportunity to play the music she hears in her dreams, and the astonished man writes down every note. His amazement turns to dismay as he wonders what will happen if word gets out that his cat is as good a composer as he is, so he gives her to the painter Louis-Michel van Loo, who, coincidentally, begins painting his greatest works soon after. Scarlatti gives Pulcinella as much credit for the music as he dares by telling people that he was inspired by his pet walking on his harpsichord keys when he wrote it. Beccia's painterly illustrations are evocative of the time period and have muted colors, plenty of detail, and a little whimsy thrown in for good measure, as when the mouse sports a lovely vest and plays a flute and Pulcinella has a 18th-century coif on her head. A fun historical read that could be used as a segue to discussing composers and artists or read simply as an amusing cat tale." --School Library Journal

Author Bio

Nathaniel Lachenmeyer is an award-winning author of books for children and adults. His books have been translated into six languages. The Outsider, Broken Beaks, and the forthcoming What the Wind and the Rain Told Tom reflect Nathaniel's interest in mental health issues. Nathaniel has lectured on mental health and homeless issues at universities, hospitals, and mental health centers across the US, Canada, Sweden, and Australia.,Nathaniel's media appearances and print coverage include: TIME Magazine, Boston Magazine, Newsday, CNN, The Catherine Crier Show, NP R's Fresh Air, NP R's Weekend Edition Sunday WNYC'S The Leonard Lopate Show, NP R's To The Best of Our Knowledge, Coast to Coast AM, and Wisconsin Public Radio's Conversations with Jean Feraca.

Beccia attended the University of Massachusetts on a 4 year art scholarship and graduated in 1995. She spent the next 10 years working as a designer and animator before returning to her first love of illustration.,
In 2005, Beccia was the Grand Prize Portfolio Winner in the Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) portfolio exhibition. In 2006, she was awarded a certificate of merit in The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Illustration West 44 Annual and she was also the Grand Prize Portfolio Winner in the New England, Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators (NEW ENGLAND SCBWI) portfolio exhibition. In 2008, Beccia's debut book, Who Put the B in the Ballyhoo was a the Golden Kite honor recipient for picture book illustration. In 2009, Beccia was the winner of the International Reading Association's 2009 Children's and Young Adult Book Award for Intermediate-Nonfiction.