Expert: Pat G - 6/14/2010

Question
Hi, Pat
   My name is Jeremy and I have a problem that hopefully you will be able to solve. I have been trying to find the name of a classical piano piece that I’ve heard in an old Tom and Jerry cartoon but unfortunately I haven’t found an answer yet. The name of the cartoon is "Johann Mouse" and it features excerpts of famous composition by Johann Strauss Jr. These renditions of some of his greatest works are heard throughout the entire cartoon and they were performed on a soundtrack by the late Polish concert pianist Jakob Gimpel.  

Some of the pieces that can be heard are:

-Wiener Blut Walzer (Vienna Blood Waltz), Op. 354
-Der Kaiser Walzer (The Emperor Waltz), Op. 437
-Tritsch-Tratsch (Chit-Chat) Polka, Op. 214
-An Der Schönen, Blauen Donau (On the Beautiful, Blue Danube), Op. 314
-Perpetuum Mobile, "Musikalischer Scherz" (Perpetual Motion, "Musical Joke"), Op. 257
-Wein, Weib Und Gesang (Wine, Women and Song), Op. 333

There is one song missing from this list however. In the cartoon Tom and Jerry have to perform before the Emperor and his nobles. After Tom the cat is seated in front of piano he begins to play this beautiful piece (it sounds to me like a waltz) that Jerry the mouse begins dancing too. Then immediately after that he starts to play Tritsch-Tratsch Polka. Now with all that being said my question to you is that I need to know the name of that “mystery piano piece” that Toms plays in the beginning of his concert to the Emperor.  I have provided the link to you on YouTube that will take you directly to the cartoon, but if you have any troubles playing the video then just simply go to You Tube and then type Johann Mouse in the search bar and you’ll see a few videos of the same cartoon. You will hear the “mystery piano piece” starting at 6:00 and ending at 6:35. I appreciate you take the time to answer my quest and hope that you can put my problem to a finally rest.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB9L6gGP1PA&feature=related

Answer
Hi, Jeremy,

Well, you got me there. There were three distinct sections. The first is not at all characteristic of the waltzes of that era. The other two are separate pieces, I think. So it's a medley of some sort. And the beat in the second section isn't nearly as clear as usual. I'm not totally versed on waltzes. But I suspect the reason the piece wasn't listed is because they took liberties with the composition, so it didn't really "belong" to the composer anymore.

There are a couple of things you might try. One is to ask the person who put up the video. Another is to do a search on the title of the video and see if you can find a web site that is "official" and ask them. I have also seen people ask in the comments to the video and get an answer.

Wish I could be of more help. If you find out, please let me know.