Katzenjammer

Katzenjammer

"For the comic strip, see The Katzenjammer Kids"

Katzenjammer are a British piano musical comedy duo comprising Steven Worbey and Kevin Farrell. The word "katzenjammer" is German, used to indicate a general state of confusion or bewilderment. It's commonly used in reference to a hangover. The literal translation is "wailing cat."

History

Katzenjammer was conceived in Summer 2003 over several bottles of Chardonnay [http://archive.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/2006/6/27/269843.html Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News] , "Four hands on a piano". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] by Royal College of Music graduates Worbey and Farrell. Their unique performance twist of both playing the same piano at the same time was, in part, due to the simple financial constraints of student life. The luxury of two pianos (and even two piano stools) being beyond their means. [http://archive.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/2006/6/27/269843.html Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News] , "Four hands on a piano". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.]

The Katzenjammer act has been compared to Victor Borge [http://www.broadwaybaby.com/edinburgh/fringe/reviews/katzenjammerarebitterandsweet Broadway Baby] , "Katzenjammer are Bitter and Sweet". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] , as the pair often use their own comic compositions as well as parody a wide range of musical styles from "The Spice Girls" to Ragtime. A key part of their live show is a projected close-up image of the piano keyboard so the audience can see the tangle of hands and arms during their performance.

Their first recorded performance as Katzenjammer was in 2004 at St John's Chapel, London [http://www.broadwaybaby.com/stevenworbey Broadway Baby] , "Steven Worbey Profile". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] , an old church near the Houses of Parliament now used as a venue for classical music. From these modest beginnings, the duo have played the Royal Opera House, the Royal Festival Hall and Blackpool Grand Theatre and also appear regularly on the QE2 and Queen Mary 2 [http://archive.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/2006/6/27/269843.html Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News] , "Four hands on a piano". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] . They have also twice appeared to critical acclaim [http://www.broadwaybaby.com/edinburgh/fringe/reviews/katzenjammerarebitterandsweet Broadway Baby] , "Katzenjammer are Bitter and Sweet". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] [http://www.broadwaybaby.com/edinburgh/fringe/reviews/katzenjammer Broadway Baby] , "Entertainment that has real talent". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] at the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe.

Kevin Farrell

After graduating from the Royal College of Music in 1992, Farrell went on to work on the Emmy award winning show "Concerto" with Dudley Moore. He toured with the English National Ballet and was then commissioned to write the music for the Jiving Lindy Hoppers' jazz ballet, "Jungles of the Cities". As a composer he has written a children's ballet "The Water Babies" and the music for the notorious play "The Dead Monkey" starring David Soul [http://www.broadwaybaby.com/kevinfarrell Broadway Baby] , "Kevin Farrell Profile". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] . He has also written music for over 80 documentaries and 4 feature films including "Death of a Son" starring Lynn Redgrave and "Never Play with the Dead". He has regularly appeared on Liberty Radio, LBC radio and BBC London.

teven Worbey

Worbey studied piano performance at the Royal College of Music between 1990 and 1995 with Phyllis Sellick and Yonty Solomon. During this time he won a scholarship to study at Post-graduate level with the pianist Peter Katin (with whom he performed in a series of piano duet concerts at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon). Since graduating, Steven toured extensively throughout the UK giving piano recitals and chamber music concerts. Having always been interested in theatre, Steven has appeared in various theatre and television roles, including "When Pigs Fly" (Arts Theatre) and "You Couldn't Make it Up" [http://www.fringereport.com/0208youcouldnt.shtml Fringe Report] , "Verdict: Powerful exposure of insincerity and truth". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] (Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2002). He is also the voice of Pod in the children's cartoon Pod's Mission for the BBC.

Trivia

*Farrell & Worbey have a pet dog named Margaret, who featured in a silent-movie parody called "Margaret come home" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMDYkT9db_M You Tube] , "Margaret come home". URL last accessed on 2007-04-08.] shown during some of their theatre performances in 2006.

*Katzenjammer is the surname of Tamsin Greig's character "Fran" in the British sitcom Black Books that ran on Channel 4 in the UK for three seasons between 2000 and 2004.
* Californian Stoner rock band Kyuss were originally called Katzenjammer before changing their name to Sons of Kyuss and then again to Kyuss. The Band also have a song named Katzenjammer.

References

External links

* [http://www.katzenjammerduo.com/ Katzenjammer] Official Katzenjammer website
* [http://www.sbmanagement.co.uk/ SB Management] Katzenjammer's exclusive management company website


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Katzenjammer — Katzenjammer …   Википедия

  • Katzenjammer — Sm std. stil. (18. Jh.) Hybridbildung. Zunächst allgemein für (ein besonderes) Leibweh , dann einerseits spezialisiert auf Nachwehen von zu reichlichem Alkoholgenuß , andererseits als moralischer Katzenjammer oder kurz Moralischer für starke… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • katzenjammer — 1849, a hangover, American English colloquial, from Ger. katzen, comb. form of katze cat + jammer distress, wailing. Hence, any unpleasant reaction (1897). Pleasure can intoxicate, passion can inebriate, success can make you quite as drunk as… …   Etymology dictionary

  • katzenjammer — ☆ katzenjammer [kats′ən jam΄ər ] n. [Ger < katze,CAT1 + jammer, woe < OHG jamar, orig. adj., sad, akin to OE geomor, miserable: KATZENJAMMER sense 1 infl. by U.S. cartoon strip ( The Katzenjammer Kids), originated (1897) by R. Dirks] 1. a… …   English World dictionary

  • Katzenjammer — Katzenjammer, Übelbefinden am Morgen nach nächtlichen Trinkgelagen, bes. in Würgen u. Erbrechen eines zähen Schleimes bestehend, od. mit würgendem Husten (Katzendampf) verbunden; er ist eigentlich ein Bauchspeichelfluß …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Katzenjammer — (von »Kater«, dieses von »Katarrh« abgeleitet), in der Volkssprache der Zustand, der sich nach einem Rausch als Folge einer mehr oder weniger starken akuten Alkoholvergiftung einstellt. Ein häufiges Zeichen des Katzenjammers ist eine… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • katzenjammer — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 7}}[wym. kacenjamer]{{/stl 7}}{{stl 17}}ZOB. {{/stl 17}}{{stl 7}}kacenjamer {{/stl 7}} …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • Katzenjammer — Der Katzenjammer (Studentensprache, Goethezeit) bezeichnet: den Kater nach einem Alkoholrausch mit Übelkeit, Appetitlosigkeit, Kopfschmerzen und Gemütsverstimmung und Niedergeschlagenheit die Ernüchterung nach überschwänglicher Freude auch… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Katzenjammer — *1. Das ist ein wahrer Katzenjammer. *2. Das ist moralischer Katzenjammer. Jenes Unbehagen, das einem verkehrten Handeln folgt und dem physischen Katzenjammer entspricht. (Vgl. Grimm, V, 296.) »Von jeher war Schubart der Held des moralischen… …   Deutsches Sprichwörter-Lexikon

  • Katzenjammer — a) Kater. b) Enttäuschung, Ernüchterung, Niedergeschlagenheit, Verbitterung; (bildungsspr.): Desillusion, Desillusionierung; (ugs.): Frust; (Psychol.): Depression, Frustration. * * * Katzenjammer,der:⇨Niedergeschlagenheit Katzenjammer→Kater …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

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