| ID | ACB3AC8F-CE00-40F6-8779-C0FBF4B4823B |
| Titlecode | X512001 |
| Title Name | Oh Them Rats Is Mean in My Kitchen |
| Marketing Copy | Scherzo-fantasy in homage to early blues, transforming its characteristic wailing and energetic speech-song into the seemingly incongruous medium of the violin duo. Some of this melodic material was also developed into a separate piece for orchestra entitled "Maltese Cat Blues". |
| Instrumentation | Violin Duo |
| Commission | (not set) |
| Dedication | (not set) |
| Program Notes | Oh Them Rats is Mean in My Kitchen was composed as a gift for Michelle Makarski and Ronald Copes in 1985 while I was living in Brazil on a Fulbright grant. One of the chief results of that stay abroad was a sharpening of my awareness of those elements of my musical thought that are distinctly American and reflect my experience as a participant in this culture. I found myself prompted to compose a scherzo-fantasy in homage to early blues, transforming its characteristic wailing and energetic speech-song into the seemingly incongruous medium of the violin duo. The title is the first line of Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Maltese Cat Blues," although I first became aware of it in a version sung by Tennessee blues singer Sleepy John Estes. In addition to suggesting some of the more pictorial writing of the third movement, the line also provides the rhythmic basis for an important motif in the final movement. --Stephen Hartke |
| Title Brand | 2 |
| Year Composed | 1985 |
| Copyright Number | (not set) |
| Copyright Year | (not set) |
| Duration | 16 |
| Ensemble Size | 2 |
| Date Created | 2008-10-31 20:33:06.000000 |
| Date Updated | 2025-09-30 20:33:06 |
| Inhouse Note | 5 yr term agreement. |
| Bsc Code | (not set) |
| Text Author | (not set) |
| Premier Performance Memo | (not set) |
| Recording Credits | Recorded by Michelle Makarski (violin), Ronald Copes (violin), New World Records CD 80391-2. |
| Review | (not set) |
| Awards | (not set) |
| Title Category | 10 |
| Title Movements | (not set) |
| Title Grade | (not set) |
| Set Series ID | (not set) |
| Title Instrument Category Text | Violin |
| Title Sub Category Text | (not set) |
| Title Sub Category | 29 |
| Title Instrument Header | 56 |
| Title Grade Text | (not set) |
| Clean Url | oh-them-rats-is-mean-in-my-kitchen-x512001 |
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