His name was Pulcinella, but he just as may have been called Grimalkin.
On at least one occasion, Pulcinella served as sorcerer’s apprentice to that old wizard of the keyboard, Domenico Scarlatti, when he walked across his master’s harpsichord. The story goes that the composer seized a sheet of paper and jotted down the notes sounded for use as the lead subject of one of his most famous sonatas. The work is commonly known as the “Cat’s Fugue.”
Thank you, Pulcinella, and happy birthday, Domenico Scarlatti!
An attempt at a modern recreation:
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