Ever wonder what a song about a pet would sound like? If someone wrote a song remembering their dog — would it feel different than a song about a person? Maybe softer, funnier or just more… tail-waggy?
Composer Leonard Bernstein actually wrote music for dogs. He wrote a piece called "Fanfare for Bima." Bima was a black cocker spaniel, and the melody came from the whistle used to call her inside.
Leonard Bernstein also wrote a second piece for a pet. When his brother’s dog Mippy passed away, Bernstein composed a tribute called "Elegy for Mippy." It’s just a trombone and a tapping foot. Honestly, it sounds like a dog’s tail thumping on the floor. Sweet and a little silly — just like pet memories often are.
Music in this episode:
Bernstein: "Fanfare for Bima"
Bernstein: "Elegy for Mippy II"
