THE SNOWCAT
1 Overture
2 Sam's Search
3 Cat Tracks
4 SnowCat Theme
5 Cat Dance
6 Hush, Now
7 Boat Song
8 Nocturne (Sam's Dream)
9 One Bright Pearl
10 Serenity
11 SnowCat Reprise
12 The SnowCat (Story and Music)
2 Sam's Search
3 Cat Tracks
4 SnowCat Theme
5 Cat Dance
6 Hush, Now
7 Boat Song
8 Nocturne (Sam's Dream)
9 One Bright Pearl
10 Serenity
11 SnowCat Reprise
12 The SnowCat (Story and Music)
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | AMAZON | BANDCAMP
PERSONNEL
Dmitri Matheny, flugelhorn
Zoe Ellis, vocals
Charles McNeal, saxophones
Brad Buethe, guitars
Ruth Davies, basses
Deszon X. Claiborne, drums
Zoe Ellis, vocals
Charles McNeal, saxophones
Brad Buethe, guitars
Ruth Davies, basses
Deszon X. Claiborne, drums
DESCRIPTION
Matheny’s original musical theater production for kids and families released in 2006. “In this spellbinding performance, jazz flugelhornist and composer Dmitri Matheny and his band weave a magical, musical tale of a little girl searching for her missing white cat on a chilly afternoon. Based on a medieval Japanese parable, The SnowCat reveals the spirit of sharing and gratitude that makes the holiday season such a wonderful time of year.” —Town & Country
REVIEWS
"In this spellbinding performance, jazz flugelhornist and composer Dmitri Matheny and his band weave a magical, musical tale of a little girl searching for her missing white cat on a chilly afternoon. Based on a medieval Japanese parable, The SnowCat reveals the spirit of sharing and gratitude that makes the holiday season such a wonderful time of year."
—Town & Country
Each year, Dmitri and friends bring The SnowCat to life in a popular series of performances for families, combining singing, storytelling, live music, and visual art.
"I was born on Christmas Day, and I love the traditional songs and stories of the holiday season," Matheny said. "The SnowCat, however, is something special."
The SnowCat is based on the ancient Asian parable of "the Oxherder," in which a herdboy's quest to find his missing ox is likened to an individual's journey through life. With origins in India, the parable became popular in medieval Japan and was depicted on 13th century handscrolls as the "Ten Oxherding Songs" or "Ten Oxherding Pictures."
The scrolls traditionally divide the hero's journey into ten stages each illustrated by a circularly framed image and a simple verse. Rendered in the graphic style of Japanese narrative illustration, the story is as simple as a modern day comic or coloring book, yet offers profound lessons of spiritual beauty which still resonate today.
As in the ancient parable, the hero of Dmitri Matheny's The SnowCat finds her companion and returns home to appreciate the beauty of nature, play music, and have fun with friends. She maintains hope, optimism and determination in the face of adversity; discovers the gentle power of sitting quietly; and embodies the spirit of sharing and gratitude that makes the holidays such a magical time.
"I was inspired by the profound message of 'The Oxherder,' and the simple shape of its narrative," Matheny remarked. "In The SnowCat, however, our hero is not a boy, but a girl named 'Sam.' Instead of an ox, her companion is a luminous white cat. Our setting isn't 13th century Japan, but 21st century America. And instead of a flute, Sam plays a flugelhorn!"
"The SnowCat story is certainly spiritual, but it's secular, not religious, and thus it is universal. It contains great messages for both kids and adults," Matheny said.
"Children appreciate the spirit of fun and friendship between Sam and her SnowCat. Adults may also view the story as an allegory or parable." Our narrative poses questions worthy of adult contemplation: Who am I? What am I seeking? What is serenity? And why are dancing, music, and play so important?
—Town & Country
Each year, Dmitri and friends bring The SnowCat to life in a popular series of performances for families, combining singing, storytelling, live music, and visual art.
"I was born on Christmas Day, and I love the traditional songs and stories of the holiday season," Matheny said. "The SnowCat, however, is something special."
The SnowCat is based on the ancient Asian parable of "the Oxherder," in which a herdboy's quest to find his missing ox is likened to an individual's journey through life. With origins in India, the parable became popular in medieval Japan and was depicted on 13th century handscrolls as the "Ten Oxherding Songs" or "Ten Oxherding Pictures."
The scrolls traditionally divide the hero's journey into ten stages each illustrated by a circularly framed image and a simple verse. Rendered in the graphic style of Japanese narrative illustration, the story is as simple as a modern day comic or coloring book, yet offers profound lessons of spiritual beauty which still resonate today.
As in the ancient parable, the hero of Dmitri Matheny's The SnowCat finds her companion and returns home to appreciate the beauty of nature, play music, and have fun with friends. She maintains hope, optimism and determination in the face of adversity; discovers the gentle power of sitting quietly; and embodies the spirit of sharing and gratitude that makes the holidays such a magical time.
"I was inspired by the profound message of 'The Oxherder,' and the simple shape of its narrative," Matheny remarked. "In The SnowCat, however, our hero is not a boy, but a girl named 'Sam.' Instead of an ox, her companion is a luminous white cat. Our setting isn't 13th century Japan, but 21st century America. And instead of a flute, Sam plays a flugelhorn!"
"The SnowCat story is certainly spiritual, but it's secular, not religious, and thus it is universal. It contains great messages for both kids and adults," Matheny said.
"Children appreciate the spirit of fun and friendship between Sam and her SnowCat. Adults may also view the story as an allegory or parable." Our narrative poses questions worthy of adult contemplation: Who am I? What am I seeking? What is serenity? And why are dancing, music, and play so important?