Attabi

Attabi, a word derived from the Al-Attabiyah district of Baghdad, means ‘watered silk’ in both Arabic and Middle Latin. The striped pattern of domestic cats was thought to resemble the patterns of watered silk – thus the English word ‘tabby’ came about. 

The electronics, which were designed by the composer using the programming platform Max/MSP, process and transform the clarinet’s sound live, in real-time.

This piece was written for clarinetist Kara Bancks and is dedicated to shelter cats the world over. And to one little she-devil in particular.