the friendly cat piano studio

1. Giga Rollicking, vigorous dance in A major Suggests light-hearted playground games with skipping and running Darker mood at F# minor section Form: A A' B A'' A' B' Meter changes from 6/8 to 9/8 at the end of sections 2. Lullaby Tonic-dominant ostinato underneath a melancholy melody evoking a traditional Italian lullaby Gently falling intervals in melody line LH intervals expand briefly in the final section Form: A A' A'' -- extracted from notes by Sylvia Watkins Ryan #reco

First published in 1937 Dedicated to Maria Rosa, Menotti's youngest sister Menotti's take on an "Album for the Young" -- recalls images of his colourful childhood in Italy Romantic in style, but flexible time signatures and expanded harmonic language Each piece serves as miniature technical etude Groupings of contrasting mood and tempo with complementary key relationships: Giga, Lullaby, The Bagpipers The Stranger's Dance, Winter Wind, The Manger The Shepherd, Nocturne, The B