ABOUT THE COMPOSITION Baby Bobcat Boops puts a feline spin on Henry Mancini's "Baby Elephant Walk", while Sergei Prokofiev's cat theme from "Peter and the Wolf" and Joe Hisaishi's "Cat Bus" from My Neighbor Totoro inspire a new melody at the heart of this short piece for beginner band. Kitten character is musically showcased from head ('da capo') to tail ('coda') with the aloof pitter-patter of paws, vibrating purrs, playfully proud struts, and sleepy, yawning stretches of an adventurous, baby bobcat.

This piece is warmly dedicated to the Brandon University Student Music Educators Association (BUSMEA) and its pre-service music education members - GO BOBCATS!

INSTRUMENTATION

Flute

Oboe

Clarinet in B-flat

Bass Clarinet in B-flat

Alto Saxophone in E-flat

Tenor Saxophone in B-flat

Baritone Saxophone in E-flat

Trumpet in B-flat

Horn in F

Trombone

Euphonium

Bassoon

Tuba

Double Bass

Timpani

Percussion 1 & Percussion 2 (Unpitched)

Bass Drum

Woodblock

Vibraslap

Percussion 3 (Pitched)

Glockenspiel

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

This piece utilizes notes of E-flat major in comfortable ranges for each instrument, introducing chromatic notes in a melodic and harmonically interesting way. Doubling of melodic and bass lines have been reinforced should reduced instrumentation be a factor in your ensemble.

Ideally, five percussionists are needed to program this piece with each musician on a separate instrument. Should there only be four percussionists available, the vibraslap and woodblock parts can be covered by a single player (requiring the woodblock to be mounted). At minimum this piece can be programmed with three percussionists - Percussion 3 (Glockenspiel) may be omitted, if necessary.