Cats

Denton Community Theatre

August 2019
John Norine, Jr – Music Director

1. Overture
 Starts in 2, tempo is dotted quarter = 126
 At m. 33, I’ll go into 4 (tempo stays the same)
 Repeat at m. 53 is good (repeat once, play 2x total)
 The rall. in m. 68 is good, and it will be pretty significant
 mm. 85 – 86 will stay in 4; don’t let the massive hemiola fool you. The repeat and accel. are also
good
 Applause (hopefully) segue into next number

2. Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats

 Starts in 4, tempo is quarter = 120
 mm. 1 -25 sound like they’re out of time – but the tempo is actually quite strict
 Rall. and fermata in mm. 24 – 25 are good. Beat 4 is a pickup in the vocals, and is a tempo
 Watch for the occasional 2/4 landmines in the parts
 In mm. 117 – 118, I’ll go into 2; the eighth note stays mostly constant, it may slow slightly –
when we go back into 4 at m. 119 – it’s an a tempo
 The repeat at m. 124 is CUT – go directly to the second ending; the fermata and caesura are
both good
 The maestoso at m. 133 will be a bit slower
 m. 149 will be in subdivided 3 will a rall. that lasts the entire measure
 m. 150 is a tempo and in 4
 The last 4 bars of the number are completely a capella and not in time per se
 Direct segue into next number

3. The Naming of Cats

 Starts in 2, tempo is dotted quarter = 66
 m. 71 is played 6x total
 The rall. in m. 72 is good, and we’ll be slower at m. 73 (dotted quarter = 50)
 Caesura and fermata in m. 88 are good
 m. 89 is suddenly faster (dotted quarter = 106)
 Rall. in m. 104 is good, and m. 105 is held back a bit
 m. 129 is suddenly faster (quarter = 100) and in 4. Repeat is good.
 Direct segue to next number
4. The Old Gumbie Cat
 Pickup is not in time, on cue from the horns; vocals have beat 4 in new tempo
 m. 1 is in 4, quarter note = 110
 There is no rall. in m. 7
 The colla voce beginning in m. 15 is really a poco a poco rit until m . 18;
 m. 19 is a suddenly faster (quarter = 150…. So, not an a tempo. Thanks, ALW)
 Fermata in m. 34 is good, but short
 m. 35 is back to quarter = 110
 m. 49 is comparable to m. 18 in function
 m. 53 is back at the fast tempo, quarter = 150
 we are cutting m. 96 – 113; so, you play m. 95, then m. 114
 THEN, we cut mm. 116 – 117. So, you play m. 115, then m. 118
 (Don’t blame me, I’m just the music director)
 mm. 136 – 138 will be in 1 and faster; it is NOT l’stesso. I don’t think he knows what that
actually means.
 m. 139 is back in 4
 Applause segue to next number

5. The Rum Tum Tugger

 Stars in 4 with a pickup; tempo is quarter = 110
 m. 4 is slightly faster – quarter moves to 120
 the 5 in m. 54 with be 2+3
 Add a caesura between m. 109 and m. 110 – this will be a (hopeful) applause hold
 m. 110 is back in time, and starts with a drum fill
 m. 122 is suddenly slower, quarter = 70
 repeat at m. 122 is good – English horn plays 2nd x only
 tempo will push forward slightly at m. 148
 the 6 in m. 160 will be a subdivided 3
 Same with the 6 in m. 169
 Applause segue to next number

6. Bustopher Jones
 Starts in 4; tempo is quarter = 110
 m. 29 is held back slightly
 pickup to m. 61 is held back even more!
 m. 63 is Tempo I
 the poco rubato in m. 92 is really on the back half of m. 91, I’ll start slowing on beat 3
 add a caesura between m. 100 and 101
 Applause segue to the next number

6a. Intro to Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser

 Starts in 4; tempo is quarter = 100
 Fermata in m. 3 is good
 Direct segue to next number, but fermata in last bar is good
7. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser
 CUT mm. 1 – 4; song begins in m. 5
 Starts in 4; tempo is quarter = 110
 NO REPEAT in mm. 9 – 10; play 1x total
 m. 27 is held back slightly
 the 5 in m. 35 is 3 + 2; there is a short caesura in the voice between beats 4 and 5
 m. 36 is Tempo I
 m. 62 is held back slightly
 the 5 in m. 69 is 3 + 2; there is a short caesura in the voice between beats 4 and 5
 m. 70 is Tempo I
 mm. 102 – 105 are very free
 mm. 106 – 108 are CUT
 m. 109 is Tempo I
 There is a caesura between mm. 111 and 112
 m. 112 is a drum solo pickup to the playoff
 Applause segue to next number

8. Old Deuteronomy
 Will be in a slow 2; tempo is dotted quarter = 50
 Flute solo has the pickups to m. 1 and is a solo until m. 5
 I’ll go into 6 in m. 67, and m. 68 to the end will be slower and slightly colla voce
 Applause segue to next number

9. The Battle of the Pekes and Pollicles

 Starts in 4; tempo is dotted quarter = 70
 CUT the repeat in mm. 5 – 8; play 1x only
 Tempo at m. 5 is a bit faster; quarter = 100
 Tempo at m. 9 is held back; quarter = 90
 CUT mm. 19 – 20
 m. 21 will be in 2; tempo is slightly faster – dotted quarter = 95-98
 CUT mm. 41 – 46
 Caesura in m. 62 is good; m. 63 is held back slightly
 m. 68 is back in time
 CUT mm. 92 – 131
 Caesura in m. 148 is good; m. 149 is held back
 m. 160 will be in 3 and will benefit from the molto rall. the bar before
 m. 162 is slow
 add a fermata on the last dotted quarter note of m. 169
 m. 170 is back in tempo!
 CUT m. 186 – 196
 m. 197 will be slower, and won’t observe the fermata – but will observe the whole bar
 I’ll sub divide to the 8th note in m. 199
 Caesura between m. 199 and m. 200 is good (for applause – I hope)
 m. 200 is slow, in 4, and VERY colla voce
 m. 207 is quarter = 100
 Repeat is good
 Direct segue to next number
10. Song of the Jellicles and Jellicle Ball (buckle up – this one’s a doozy)
 Begins in 2; dotted quarter = 74
 NO REPEAT in mm. 1 -8 (play 1x total)
 This whole opening section has a gradual accelerando that lasts until m. 81 (VERY gradual, I
guess)
 There is no rall. in m. 85
 There IS a rall in m. 87
 Please add a fermata on big beat 2 in m. 88
 CUT mm. 89 – 114
 m. 115 is faster; dotted quarter = 120
 CUT mm. 123 – 130
 m. 165 is in 4 but is NOT faster
 m. 177 is played 3x total; percussion and Keyboard 3 do not come in until the last time through
the bar
 m. 199 isn’t really slower, but more relaxed. I plan on staying in 2 unless it screws everything
up; there’s a pretty massive 3/2 hemiola through this whole section
 m. 222 is in 3! And not really faster.
 Add a rall. in mm. 250 – 251 and remove the caesura at the end of m. 251
 CUT mm. 252 – 261
 m. 262 is back in 2 and slower; dotted quarter = 50ish
 Fermata in m. 269 is good, but very brief
 m. 270 is back in 4; tempo is quarter = 120
 Sudden tempo change in m. 281 to quarter = 155
 Please add a repeat between m. 288 and m. 291; percussion only plays the 2x (and blast it; it’s a
cool part that you can barely hear regularly)
 Reeds: in m. 323, please add the following:

 The tempo starts to SLIGHTLY relax in m. 370, headed for quarter = 145 in m. 372
 Rall in m. 393, leading to a new tempo in m. 394; dotted quarter = 72 (still in 4)
 The accel really starts in m. 410, not m. 409.
 The repeat is good, and the accel lasts all 4 bars of the repeat (2 bars x 2 times); I’ll try and stay
in 4 unless it messes everything up again (another heavy 3/2 hemiola)
 NO rit at the end, but once we hit m. 412 – that’s the tempo
 Applause segue to next number
 (If you listen to the Broadway cast of this number – you’ll notice it now oddly matches. Huh.)
11. Grizabella, the Glamour Cat
 Begins in 4; quarter = 65
 Caesura in m. 12 is good
 Watch out for mm. 13 – 25; it’s a landmine of fermatas
 Repeat in m. 26 is good…. For now.
 Tempo moves forward in m. 35, then a rall in m. 42, followed by a Tempo I in m. 43
 Repeat at m. 51 is good

—INTERMISSION—

12. Moments of Happiness

 Starts in 4; tempo is quarter = 60
 I’ll go into 2 at m. 5
 Back into 4 at m. 19; this section is basically recit – so I’ll be all over the place with the singer
 m. 32 is more in time
 m. 36 back to recit
 m. 38 will be in 6; eighth note = 90
 m. 41 is back in 4; dotted quarter = 54
 Direct segue into next number

13. Gus, The Theatre Cat

 Begins in 1; tempo is dotted quarter = 42-45
 m. 149 is a bit faster; dotted quarter = 60
 m. 165 back to Tempo I
 There is an applause break between m. 208 and m. 209
 m. 209 is back in 1 at Tempo I
 Direct segue to next number

14. Growltiger’s Last Stand (Part 1)

 Begins in 4; quarter = 110
 The rall. in m. 31 is good to a new held back tempo at m. 32
 There is an additional rall. at m. 38 – 39, then back to Tempo I at m. 40
 Another rall. starts in m. 56.
 If you do not have it, please add a fermata to beat 4 in m. 58
 New tempo in m. 59 – quarter = 80
 Fermatas in m. 66 and m. 68 are good
 There is a significant rall in m. 92
 Direct segue to next number
14a. The Ballad of Billy M’Caw
 Begins in 2; dotted quarter = 64
 m. 19 goes into 4 and is MUCH slower; colla voce
 m. 21 is back to Tempo I
 The rall. in m. 24 isn’t molto – but decently sized.
 There’s also a rall in m. 36
 There is NO rall. in m. 52
 BIG rall. in m. 83; I may go into 6
 Applause segue to the next number

14b. Growltiger’s Last Stand (Part 2)

 Starts in 4; quarter = 100
 m. 18 is held back slightly; quarter = 92
 Decent sized rall. starts in m. 41 to the end of the number
 Applause segue to next song

14c. Gus, The Theatre Cat (Reprise)

 Starts in 1; dotted quarter = 42-45
 Applause segue to next song

15. Skimbleshanks, The Railway Cat

 The 13/8 will be in 5: 3+3+3+2+2 and counted as 3+2. Does that remotely make sense?
 Tempo is eighth = 280 (how useless is this comment?) or 140 to the quarter
 Blissfully in regular 4/4 at m. 7
 Back to weird 5 at m. 39
 Back to bliss 4 at m. 43
 Back to weird 5 at m. 114
 Back to bliss 4 at m. 122
 m. 146 is a drum solo where the train falls apart
 m. 147 – beats 1 and 2 are dead, with beats 3 and 4 on cue
 Back to bliss 4 at m. 148
 Big rall. is good in m. 160
 Place a caesura between m. 163 and m. 164 (holding for applause)
 In m. 164, beats 1 and 2 are dead – with beats 3 and for be a fill lead in for the drums.
 The back to the weird 5 in m. 165
 And we end in 4 in m. 169
 Quick segue to next song

16. Macavity, the Mystery Cat (aka the only cat who doesn’t sing in the ENTIRE SHOW)
 Begins in 4, quarter = 100
 Suddenly faster in m. 11; quarter = 120
 Big rall. in m. 19 is good
 M. 20 is a measured bar where nothing happens
 Back to Tempo I in m. 21
 M. 24 is ALSO a measured bar where nothing happens
 The 6 in m. 88 is a subdivided 3
 Applause segue to next song
16a. Macavity Fight
 Begins in 4; quarter = 86
 We’ll push forward still in 4 at m. 7
 M. 13 is subito quarter = 120
 M. 24 is subito quarter = 160
 M. 43 is subito dotted quarter = 43
 In m. 67 beat 3 is a dead beat for dialogue, then flute solo on beat 4 before going into a slow 2
 Applause (?) segue to next song

17. Magical Mister Mistoffelees

 m. 1 is a snare roll – vocals have an eighth note pickup to m. 2
 m. 2 is in a moderate 4, colla voce (quarter = 90ish)
 m. 4 goes into stricter time; quarter = 100
 Back to the colla voce feel at m. 21
 Back into time at m. 23
 Repeat beginning at m. 24 is good (play 2x total)
 Repeat beginning at m. 28 is good (play 2x total)
 The tempo at m. 32 relaxes slightly – more of a feel than a super tempo change
 Possible fermata in m. 74 – we’ll see how the choreography goes
 m. 89 is a free measure with percussion/drums for the “magic trick”
 m. 90 is under tempo; quarter = 80
 we go back to a tempo on beat 3 of m. 94
 m. 95 is now a REGULAR repeat (play 2x total) – everything still as written
 m. 99 is also a REGULAR repeat (play 2x total) – take the 2nd ending the 2nd time.
 All the fermatas in the last 3 bars are good
 It’s supposed to be a direct segue to the next song but will probably be an applause hold. We’ll
see.

18. Memory
 Begins in 2; dotted quarter = 60ish
 Repeat in m. 9 is good (play 2x total)
 The 10/8 in m. 14 will be in 4; 3+3+2+2
 The repeat at m. 24 is good for now (dotted quarter = quarter)
 Tempo pushes forward slightly at m. 45
 Broadway broadening at mm. 71 -72 to a slightly slower tempo in m. 73
 No break between m. 80 and m. 81
 Applause segue to next song
19. Journey to the Heaviside Layer
 Begins in 4; quarter = 90
 (Does anyone else feel like this tune is our “Prominade from Pictures” theme?)
 Repeat beginning in m. 5 is good for now
 m. 9 is a subito faster tempo; quarter = 100
 ….. and the repeat is good.
 The repeat at m. 13 is also good.
 The rall in m. 24 is decently severe, going to a dotted quarter = 60 in m. 25
 (This is where she “dies” and goes to the Heaviside Layer… yep, there’s death in the plotless
musical)
 Big rall in m. 36 going to the Maestoso in m. 37
 Direct segue (in strict time) to next song

20. The Ad-Dressing of Cats (I don’t know if the spelling is a pun, but I don’t get it)
 Starts in 4; quarter = 80
 If you have an errant caesura in m. 6, cross it out (stupid typos)
 m. 36 pushes forward slightly
 mm. 57 – 59 are very colla voce, then back to tempo at m. 60
 m. 91 is NOT slower – dirty liars….
 Add a good sized rall in m. 98
 Applause segue to next number

21. Finale 1
 Not the Finale – in fact is the bow music
 Quarter = 148
 Rall in m. 21 -22
 Still in 4 at 23, but 3/2 hemiola is back
 With a repeat
 Direct segue to next number

22. Finale 2/3

 Guess neither were important enough to get their own song
 M. 1 – beats 1 and 2 are dead, with a drum lead-in on beats 3 and 4
 Tempo is eighth = 280 (how useless is this comment?) or 140 to the quarter
 (I just loved typing that – so happy to bring it back again)
 M. 49 is a dead bar… for some reason
 M. 50 is in 4; quarter now = 90
 Repeat at m. 51 is good (play 2x total)
 Same with m. 55
 Direct segue to next number

23. Finale 4
 I guess that it’s important enough to have its own number
 Its Mistoffelees to Memory – I think we’ve got it at this point
 This will be exit music