The Moments of Happiness

"The Moments of Happiness" is the musical number that opens Act 2 of Cats.

Context
This number begins slowly, as the cast gradually make their way onstage through various entrances in the auditorium, interacting with the audience as they go. Old Deuteronomy often spends the interval sitting alone onstage, reflecting on the tribe's attitude and hostility towards Grizabella. Eventually he begins to sing, trying to explain the philosophy behind the tribe's customs. The song is quiet and reflective. The mystical twins, Coricopat and Tantomile, channel Old Deuteronomy's wisdom into Jemima/Sillabub, who explains the concept in far simpler language, singing "Moonlight, turn your face to the Moonlight". In most productions, the ensemble sings a repeat of Jemima/Sillabub's verse.

The entire ensemble are onstage for this number, including Gus in his old form, ready to be introduced. Even Grizabella is present, though she hides on a ledge, unseen by the other cats.

History
The text that Old Deuteronomy sings is adapted from the T S Eliot poem "The Dry Salvages" from Four Quartets (1943).

Excerpt from "The Dry Salvages":

 It seems, as one becomes older, That the past has another pattern, and ceases to be a mere sequence - Or even development: the latter a partial fallacy Encouraged by superficial notions of evolution, Which becomes, in the popular mind, a means of disowning the past. The moments of happiness - not the sense of well-being, Fruition, fulfilment, security or affection, Or even a very good dinner, but the sudden illumination - We had the experience but missed the meaning, And approach to the meaning restores the experience In a different form, beyond any meaning We can assign to happiness. I have said before That the past experience revived in the meaning Is not the experience of one life only But of many generations - not forgetting Something that is probably quite ineffable: The backward look behind the assurance Of recorded history, the backward half-look Over the shoulder, towards the primitive terror.

Jemima/Sillabub meanwhile sings a version of "Memory" adapted by Trevor Nunn. Some English-language international tours, such as the 2007-2010 Australasia tour and the 2016-2020 UK/international tour, will have Jemima/Sillabub sing her "Moonlight" verse in the local language of each tour stop, while the ensemble repeats her verse in English.

Music
"The Moments of Happiness" begins with an instrumental opening which uses a few chords from the slow middle section of the "Jellicle Ball" (fragments of the recurring Jellicle theme). This segues into Old Deuteronomy's melody which in turn leads straight into his solo. Old Deut's stanza is set in the time signature of 4/4. It starts out composed in the key of Eb minor but shifts to Eb major towards the end. His vocals span from D4 to Gb5. The transitional chords to Jemima/Sillabub's part are played in the 6/8 meter.



Jemima/Sillabub's verse is sung sweetly to the melody of "Memory", but in the D major key instead of the song's usual home key of Bb major. It is performed in the 12/8 meter, switching to 10/8 for one bar, and follows a chord progression of D-Bm-G-F#m-Bm-A-G/A-D. Her vocals range from B3 to E5. The ensemble repeat her verse in hushed, gentle tones before the orchestra take over, playing the bridge section and another verse, the final downbeat of which becoming the first note of the next number, "Gus: The Theatre Cat".



Lyrics
 Old Deuteronomy: The moments of happiness ... We had the experience but missed the meaning, And approach to the meaning restores the experience In a different form, beyond any meaning We can assign to happiness ...

The past experience revived in the meaning Is not the experience of one life only But of many generations - not forgetting Something that is probably quite ineffable ...

Jemima/Sillabub: Moonlight, Turn your face to the moonlight Let your memory lead you Open up, enter in If you find there the meaning of what happiness is Then a new life will begin

International Versions

 * Czech
 * Dutch
 * French
 * German
 * Norwegian
 * Russian
 * Spanish

Audio

 * "The Moments of Happiness" from the 1981 London cast recording


 * "The Moments of Happiness" from the 1983 Broadway cast recording