When I was young and my parents went on vacation to Italy, we often visited relatives and among the families, one really stood out. I believe the connection to this family runs through my father’s side. Regardless, even though I only saw them a few times every couple of years, fond memories of those visits remain. As a child, there was this fascination with this family because unlike other families, they were active in many areas that I love. Like his brother, my uncle was legally blind but led a normal life. Not only was he a musician, but he was also an avid fisherman and himself loved to invite us on fishing trips and boat trips. After fishing trips, we always returned to their home and feasted on the day’s catch with a dozen families, often with relatives traveling with us from Canada. There is a nice feeling when you end up hanging out with cousins and families, living in one country and ending up on the other side of the world. Another thing that freaked me out as a kid was their house, which explains why they could invite so many people over. They had such an elaborate house that next to their dining room there was a dance room with a sound system and instruments such as my beloved drum kit. Located on a hill in the town called Silvi, their huge balconies faced the Adriatic Sea. These fishing trips and partying until the early hours were memorable on many levels.
Still in my early teens, one year in particular, one of these days of fishing and partying lasted until the early hours. Around eleven in the evening most people get tired and leave, not us, we always stayed longer since we only saw each other during our visits to Italy. My parents easily gave in to their requests to stay. The small group of closest relatives ended the night on the huge balcony facing the Adriatic Sea. On this balcony, next to the table and chairs, there was a hammock bench that I was lying on at one point due to exhaustion. Eyes closed, gently swinging on the hammock while being touched by a gentle warm wind from the Adriatic Sea, the harmony was broken by the arrival of two chatty cats. Probably sitting on the edge of the fence at my uncle’s house, these two cats chatted for over an hour. Having heard them with my eyes closed, to a point it was as if I was next to them, it was both fascinating and eerie.
Although I recognize their great abilities and intelligence, I do not like cats, perhaps one of the most loathed animals due to their behavior and emitting sounds. Not liked, and yet I created a music composition that features replicating cats talking to each other. The cats are not celebrated here, they are just catalyst in my memories towards amazing times of my youth.
My uncle is not among us any longer, I dedicate the music composition Midnight Cat Chat to him. Ciao! C.C