The Tiger’s Tail, an orchestral prelude, will be broadcast on Marvin Rosen’s Classical Discoveries on wprb.com and on the radio at 103.3 FM, Princeton NJ as part of his “Scratch Time-All About Cats” annual broadcast. Oct 25, 2023
The Tiger’s Tail, like most of Wallach’s music, it depicts some specific psychological landscapes. Here, the emotional scene is that of the apprehension and excitement which can suddenly wake a dreamer in the dark hours of early morning and make sleep impossible with endlessly running thoughts. The title refers to the expression “to catch a tiger by the tail,” with its intimations of danger and anxiety, its promise of imminent excitement, and its futile longing for repose. A tiger’s tail, itself, can also be imagined: luxuriant fur silken, plushy and dramatically striped; its motion alternating between the soft sensuality of languorous furls and sharp, sudden lashes of malicious playfulness, unpredictably mounting anger, and ominous bestial strength.