Stefan Schwalgin

Cartoon Spectacular

Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, Donald Duck and other (more or less real) characters of movie history were the inspiration for this brilliant little composition. The American cartoon film of the 1930's and 1940's established not only a visual, but also a musical style that still today is significant for the genre. Composers like Carl Stalling and Scott Bradley developed a special tonal language, the music meticulously and synchronously accompanying the action and intensifying audience perception. The typically tumultuous plots distinctively set the musical atmosphere: Wild chases, steep falls, fights and all make the music burst with vivid excitement. 'Cartoon Spectacular' transfers this celluloid language very successfully to the wind band. The composition tells a cartoon story that is detailed in the score. Briefly, the plot is about a tomcat. He wakes up, discovers a bird and - how could it be different? - chases him around. In doing so they both audibly cross a busy street. After a long fall, the tomcat catches sight of a beautiful lady cat and begins to court her. However, his clumsiness makes her finally chase him away in a fury. While the tomcat has the blues, the bird returns and cheers up the poor guy. Tomcat and bird dance a joyful waltz, until the tomcat regains appetite and goes for the bird again.