Thomas Vincent Cator

Thomas Vincent Cator (23 March 1888 – 9 April 1931) was an American composer. His most significant achievement was the discovery and use of what he caleed the aura-modal scale.[1]

Thomas Vincent Cator
Thomas Vincent Cator
Born(1888-03-23)March 23, 1888
Jersey City, New Jersey, US
DiedApril 9, 1931(1931-04-09) (aged 43)
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, US
OccupationComposer
SpouseIrene V. Campbell
Children4

Biography

Thomas Vincent Cator was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on March 23, 1888. He was the son of Thomas Vincent Cator Sr. (1851-1920),[2] a lawyer and politician who ran for office for the Populist Party in California in the late 19th century. He had a sister Marie (1883-1968), who became a writer and poet and first married Max Wardall (from 1902 to 1912) and later the famous figure skating couch Gustave Lussi (from 1921 to around 1930).[3]

Cator became popular in the late 1910s and 1920s with his songs. A notable story was when renowned singer Eleonora de Cisneros sang his song "The Kiss" in a Liberty Bonds sale in New York City in early 1919 and received 43 million dollars for 43 kisses to bankers.[4] He also invented the Aura-Modal Scale, in which he composed several piano pieces.[5]

In 1922, Cator wrote the composition operetta for the play Inchling, written by Ira Mallory Remsen, that was a story of an inch worm and its struggle for wings, which captured the fantasies of young children.[6][7]

The music of theatre, church, children, radio and phonograph has been made lovelier by his compositions. Had made voices in Carmel and has been one. The newest musical scale in existence is his creation: Aura-Modality.

— Carmel Pine Cone[8]

Death

Cator died of a heart attack on April 9, 1931, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California at the age of 45.[1]

Compositions
  • The Kiss, for voice and piano
  • To Ramona, for voice and piano
  • The pool of quietness, for voice and piano
  • St. Moritz, for voice and piano[9]
  • One Day, for voice and piano[9]
  • Zamboanga, for voice and piano
  • Clorinda sings, for voice and piano
  • Three melodies for violin and piano
  • Operetta Inchling (text by Ira Mallory Remsen)
  • Violin sonata (1929)[10]

References
  1. "Carmel Composer Is Taken By Death". Santa Cruz Evening News. Santa Cruz, California. April 9, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  2. "Guide to the Thomas Vincent Cator Papers M0032". Online Archieve of California. 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  3. "Thomas Vincent Cator". www.tobias-broeker.de. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  4. Boston Pops Orchestra concert programs, concert from 2 July 1919, page 3, retrieved from archive.org on 06.06.2021
  5. Catalog of Copyright Entries 1930, Musical Composition, page 6; retrieved from archive.org on 06.01.2021
  6. Anne Burroughs (August 24, 1922). "Inchling Makes Hit at the Forest Theater". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  7. Frank Lloyd (July 15, 1976). "Once upon a time". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  8. "Who's Who-and Here". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. December 14, 1928. pp. 9–15. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  9. "20th century violin concertante - Cator, Thomas Vincent". www.tobias-broeker.de.
  10. Recital Programs of the Curtis Institute for Music of the year 1929/30, program from 2 December 1929; retrieved from archive.org on 06.01.2021
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