Unless you're a classical music aficionado, the name Domenico Scarlatti probably doesn't mean much to you. But in the early 18th-century, the Italian-born composer was a big deal. During his lifetime, he created several hundred operas and produced more than 550 sonatas — all while holding various high-profile musical posts.
One of his most famous pieces, however, was inspired not by some rustic melody or the work of another composer, but by a collaboration with his cat.
According to legend, the maestro owned a cat named Pulcinella, who enjoyed walking up and down the
keyboard of his harpsichord. Usually this produced only random, meaningless noise. But during one of these improv sessions, the feline plinked out a catchy series of notes.
Inspired, Scarlatti composed an entire fugue around it. The piece became an instant success, and it remains so today. In fact, by the early 19th century, it had become universally known as the Cat's Fugue.
During the 1840's, the great pianist Franz Liszt added the work to his repertoire, and it became a regular part of his performances.
~~~~~ Sam Stall, Mental Floss Magazine, (Jul/Aug 2007), "10 Cats Who Changed Civilization - #5: Pulcinella: The Cat Who Wrote A Fugue"
Dumb animals, huh?
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