The Waltzing Cat (Band Version) Cover Image

The Waltzing Cat (Band Version): Concert Band, Ensemble Works, Score and Parts (LUDWIGMASTERS)

$60.00 USD
$60.00 USD
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The Waltzing Cat (Band Version) Cover Image
The Waltzing Cat (Band Version): Concert Band, Ensemble Works, Score and Parts (LUDWIGMASTERS)

The Waltzing Cat (Band Version): Concert Band, Ensemble Works, Score and Parts (LUDWIGMASTERS)

By Leroy Anderson, transcr. Philip J. Lang

Item: 36-B400402
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Description
Leroy Anderson was very versatile in the realm of light classics, composing music depicting a ticking clock (The Syncopated Clock), a sleigh ride (Sleigh Ride), a typewriter (The Typewriter), and this clever work, The Waltzing Cat. These works exhibit Anderson's grasp of instrumentation and ability to orchestrate lifelike animal sounds. For example, at the end of Sleigh Ride, we hear a trumpet whine like a horse, and here in The Waltzing Cat, the strings depict the cat's meow. The work opens with a lazy waltz theme played by the strings, whose use of portamento on key notes creates the meow effect. The middle section is reminiscent of lots of playful cat-and-mouse-like action. The nonchalant main theme returns to close out this charming work. This LudwigMasters edition is transcribed by Philip J. Lang for concert band from the composer's original manuscript.

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Additional Details
Series: LudwigMasters Leroy Anderson Band Series
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 746241279651
SKU: 36-B400402
Instrumentation: Concert Band

More about this title

About the Composer: Leroy Anderson

Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) dominated the light classical repertoire for decades, creating a catalog of orchestral novelties that combined sophisticated compositional technique with irresistible charm. His gift lay in translating everyday sounds and images into music: ticking clocks, sleigh bells, typewriter keys, and in this case, a cat's plaintive meow. Anderson's orchestrations reveal a composer who understood instrumental color with precision, using portamento, muted brass, and clever doublings to achieve effects that delighted audiences from concert halls to living rooms.

Why we love this

Anderson's orchestration tricks make this a masterclass in musical storytelling for your students. The portrayal of feline sounds through string technique and playful middle section instrumentation give players specific expressive goals beyond traditional concert band repertoire. It's the kind of piece that reminds audiences why they love live music while keeping your musicians engaged in solving real interpretive problems.

What to expect

Playful, elegant, and unapologetically charming. The opening waltz has a lazy, almost aristocratic quality before the music tumbles into mischievous action. There's warmth in the orchestration and a wink in the writing that invites performers to enjoy themselves.

Who it's for

This works equally well for intermediate to advanced high school bands and community ensembles. Directors seeking repertoire that entertains audiences while offering genuine musical challenges will find it invaluable for pops concerts, family-friendly programs, or as a welcome contrast to heavier concert fare.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the opening waltz theme with careful attention to the string portamento passages that create the cat's meow; these should feel natural and vocal rather than mechanical.
  • Balance the middle section's cat-and-mouse activity so ensemble sections shine without drowning the featured melodic lines.
  • Keep the nonchalant return of the main theme unhurried; resist the temptation to push tempo and let the orchestration's charm breathe.

How to use it

Pair this with other Anderson light classics for a thematic concert, or slot it into a spring pops program where you want a moment of humor and sophistication. It also works beautifully as a closer for a family concert, sending audiences out smiling.

Skills your students will build

  • Expressive string techniques (portamento, vibrato control) to depict non-musical sounds
  • Balance and blend across multiple instrumental sections during sustained harmonic backgrounds
  • Stylistic interpretation of waltz rhythm and character
  • Dynamic shaping of thematic material without relying on tempo changes

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