Skip to page content

At-A-Glance

Composed: 2023

Length: c. 5 minutes

Orchestration: 3 flutes (3=piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, 3 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets (1=opt. piccolo trumpet), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 3 percussion (1=4 deep double-headed toms with Naugahyde [or surdo drums], bass drum, cabasas with foot pedal, 2 congas; 2=marimba, snare drum, 2 congas, 1 upper bongo, cymbal stack, large cymbal, crash cymbal, brake drum; 3=vibraphone, xylophone, large cymbal), piano/celesta, and strings

About this Piece

Cool Cat is inspired by the extraordinary life of P-22, the mountain lion that captured the heart of Los Angeles and beyond. This playful and celebratory concert-opener, aka fanfare, is meant to get the party started.

We knew that this work would be premiered on September 12, 2023. Serendipitously, that date falls exactly 10 years to the day when the orchestra premiered my first commission for the LA Phil. At the time, I was asked to write a children’s ballet, which I titled Bounce. That work was dedicated to my then one-month-old, Luca. My youngest son, Leo, had yet to have a piece solely dedicated to him, so I knew it was only fitting. He is fierce and determined, just like P-22! This new piece is dedicated to Leo, our very own cool cat.

—Adam Schoenberg