The Cats score uses many recurring musical themes, some of which are associated with a particular character or event.
General Motifs[]
Fanfare[]
This recurring trumpet fanfare is not associated with any particular character or event. It is mainly used to transition out of quieter, serious moments, and for this purpose, it is used as a direct introduction to "The Old Gumbie Cat", "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" and "The Journey to the Heaviside Layer". The fanfare theme also appears in "Magical Mister Mistoffelees", where it is used to amplify the celebratory refrains.[1]
The fanfare theme in the opening of "The Journey to the Heaviside Layer"
The fanfare theme in the chorus of "Magical Mister Mistoffelees"
Listen to a sample showcasing the trumpet fanfare theme.
Jellicle Songs[]
In general, "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" can be divided into four main parts: the opening section, the verses, the choruses and the hymn section. Musical segments from this opening number are revisited in later portions of the show.
Opening[]
The eight orchestral phrases that open "Jellicle Songs" is used to indicate that the cats sense something is amiss. It opens "Jellicle Songs" as the cats realise they are being watched by a human audience. For this same purpose, it is then revisited in both the "Jellicle Ball", when the cats realise they are being watched by Grizabella, and the "Macavity Fight", when Demeter realises "Old Deuteronomy" is actually Macavity in disguise.
A loose interpretation of the opening is also used to accompany Grizabella's attempted dance in "Memory Act 1", as she realises she can no longer dance like she used to.
Verse[]
Variations of the verse material of "Jellicle Songs" are used in the "Jellicle Ball" and the "Macavity Fight".
Verse section in "Jellicle Songs".
Listen to a sample showcasing the verse section of "Jellicle Songs".
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A variation of the verse section in the Macavity Fight.
Chorus[]
The chorus music of "Jellicle Songs" is revisited in the "Jellicle Ball".
Chorus section in "Jellicle Songs".
Listen to a sample showcasing the chorus section of "Jellicle Songs".
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A variation of the chorus section of "Jellicle Songs" as heard in the "Jellicle Ball".
Listen to a sample showcasing the "Jellicle Songs" chorus variation as heard in the Ball.
Hymn[]
In "The Journey to the Heaviside Layer", the hymn section of "Jellicle Songs" is quoted.[2]
Jellicle Theme[]
The Jellicle theme is first introduced in its various forms in the "Overture". It can be heard throughout the show, almost always in the key of Bb major. The theme appears in three main versions: two phrases, four phrases, and eight phrases.[3]
- "Overture" - opens with fragments of the theme, which then builds into a dissonant fugue, and eventually played in its four-phrase and full eight-phrase forms
- "The Naming of Cats" - the music is based entirely on fragmented and dissonant variations of this theme
- "The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball" - played in its two-phrase form during the White Cat Solo, and played in its four-phrase form during Mistoffelees' stanza
- "Pekes and the Pollicles" - played in its two-phrase form during Munkustrap's introduction
- "The Jellicle Ball"
- "Memory Act 1" - played at the end in its two-phrase form
- "The Moments of Happiness" - chord fragments of the theme, taken from the slow middle section of "The Jellicle Ball", are played in the introduction
- "Macavity Fight" - the theme is heard in various forms, including its fugal and fragmented versions
- "Daylight" - played in its two-phrase form in the opening, and again as Munkustrap speaks, intoned with synthesizer bells (labelled on the score as "Jellicle Bells")
- "Memory" - played in its two-phrase form at the very end, intoned with synthesizer bells (labelled on the score as "Jellicle Bells")
- "The Journey to the Heaviside Layer" - played in its full eight-phrase form as the giant tire rises off the ground with Grizabella and Old Deuteronomy.
Two-Phrase[]
The Jellicle theme in its two-phrase form:
Jellicle theme in two phrases
Listen to a midi transcription showcasing the Jellicle theme in its two-phrase form.
This phrasing of the Jellicle theme is associated with two arcs within the show.
- The two-phrase theme is first heard accompanying Victoria's ballet solo in "Invitation", then as a loose interpretation during her pas de deux at the Jellicle Ball. It is heard at the end of "Memory Act 1" when Grizabella reaches out but no one touches her, and finally heard again at the end of "Memory" as Victoria touches Grizabella and accepts her back into the tribe, thus bookending Victoria's arc.
- The two-phrase theme is also associated with proclamations about the Jellicle Ball/Choice. It is used for this purpose in "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles", "The Song of the Jellicles" and "Daylight".
Four-Phrase[]
The Jellicle theme in its four-phrase form in "The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball":
Jellicle theme in four phrases (part 1)
Jellicle theme in four phrases (part 2)
Jellicle theme in four phrases (part 3)
Listen to a midi transcription showcasing the Jellicle theme in its four-phrase form.
This phrasing of the Jellicle theme is first heard in the "Overture" and again in "Invitation" when Mistoffelees calls the cats out for the Ball. The standard arrangement of this theme gives it an almost otherworldly feel. A new arrangement of the four-phrase theme is then used to accompany the "Honky Tonk" section of the "Jellicle Ball", played in a perky swing this time as Bombalurina leads the queens in a sultry dance.[4]
Eight-Phrase[]
The Jellicle theme in its eight-phrase form in the overture:
Ending of the Overture - Jellicle theme in eight phrases (Part 1)
Jellicle theme in eight phrases (Part 2)
Jellicle theme in eight phrases (Part 3)
Jellicle theme in eight phrases (Part 4)
Jellicle theme in eight phrases (Part 5)
Jellicle theme in eight phrases (Part 6)
"Memory"[]
The iconic melody from "Memory" recurs throughout the show. A very loose interpretation of the melody is first heard in "Grizabella the Glamour Cat", played by a solo English horn over Grizabella's leitmotif as she makes her first entrance.[5] This version of "Memory" accompanies all three of Grizabella's entrances.
A loose interpretation of "Memory" is played by an English horn over Grizabella's motif in "Grizabella the Glamour Cat".
Listen to a sample showcasing the English horn "Memory" solo with Grizabella's motif.
Note: .ogg files cannot be played on iOS devices
"Memory" is primarily sung by Grizabella in the key of Bb major. The first time it is sung as a short prelude version at the end of the first act. Then, when she returns at end of the musical, she sings the full version of the song.
Grizabella sings "Memory" in Bb major.
Jemima/Sillabub also sings two melodic reprises of "Memory", but in a higher D major key. The first time occurs in "The Moments of Happiness" (with the ensemble echoing her) and again in "Daylight".
Jemima/Sillabub sings "Memory" higher in D major.
When Grizabella sings the full version in Act 2, Jemima/Sillabub joins in and the two sing together briefly, one octave apart.
In the full version of "Memory", Grizabella and Jemima/Sillabub sing the bridge together, one octave apart.
Character Motifs[]
References[]
- ↑ The Megamusical, Indiana University Press (2006). Pages 147, 151, 161. ISBN 978-0-253-34793-0.
- ↑ The Megamusical, Indiana University Press (2006). Pages 142-146. ISBN 978-0-253-34793-0.
- ↑ The Megamusical, Indiana University Press (2006). Pages 133-144, 409. ISBN 978-0-253-34793-0.
- ↑ The Megamusical, Indiana University Press (2006). Pages 140-141. ISBN 978-0-253-34793-0.
- ↑ The Megamusical, Indiana University Press (2006). Pages 157-159. ISBN 978-0-253-34793-0.