John Carbon: Astro Cats

Astro Cats is a virtuosic and colourful piano cycle by John Carbon in which each movement is inspired by a different breed of cat (domestic, wild, and even one imaginary), performed by Steven Graff. Given that the world often seems divided between dog and cat lovers, following the release of Carbon’s work Astro Dogs, many people suggested the idea of a cat cycle.

The composer has had both dogs and cats over the years, and as with the previous work, the pairing of each breed with a zodiac sign meant that the composer took inspiration from close friends and family that shared the sign.

The moods of the pieces vary widely, and John Carbon has taken strong inspiration from the kinetic behaviour of cats, with their pouncing, crouching, sprinting, as well as elements of the hunt and their mysterious, crafty nature. The result is a rich musical exploration of the feline world, projected through the full possibilities of the piano.