Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868)
Transcribed by Jan Meyerowitz
CATS' MEOW
for Four-Part Chorus for Mixed Voices with Piano Accompaniment
Duetto buffo di due gatti ("humorous duet for two cats") is a popular performance piece for sopranos. Although frequently attributed to Gioacchino Rossini, it was in fact a contemporary parody of his Otello.
While the underlying music is clearly Rossini's, the lyrics are uncharacteristic, consisting entirely of the repeated word "miau".
In 1973, Duet for two Cats. Sometimes attributed to Rossini. [A facsimile of the edition published by Ewer & Johanning, c. 1825, under the pseudonym of G. Berthold, with an introduction by Edgar Hunt and a facsimile of Pearsall's autograph score.] was reprinted by German-based music publisher Schott. It is understood from the 1825 printing that Robert Lucas de Pearsall was responsible for the unusual lyrics and arrangement. Despite the evidence, music publishers and record labels routinely give full credit to Rossini.