When you think about classical music, what styles of images come to mind? A fancy concert hall, tuxedos and dresses, wine and cheese? These upper-class images can seem untouchable and disconnected from everyday life. This often acts as a barrier, preventing people from enjoying the mesmerizing world of classical music. However, what if this sophisticated, upper-class type of music was hilariously inserted into one of your favorite comics? Can you imagine a piece by Liszt being used in a funny moment between Tom and Jerry, a cat and mouse duo?
If that is the case, you may find "The Cat Concerto" (1947) surprising and interesting to watch. In the episode where Tom is a concert pianist, funny moments have been illustrated with one of the most popular classical music, Franz Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No.2”. In this scene, Tom was an eloquent pianist who was a virtuoso. However, as you may expect, this was not a serious classical music concert scene because Jerry causes chaos while Tom performs. The story starts with Tom chasing Jerry into a grand concert venue where an orchestra is preparing for a performance. Tom, in a series of mishaps, ends up as the conductor, while Jerry becomes an unexpected soloist.
What makes it hilarious in the scene is the contrasting elements. While Tom plays serious classical music which should be performed with the sophisticated techinique, the animation captures the chaos of the concert with detailed visuals and exaggerated character expressions. The fast-paced action is synchronized with the music, creating a seamless blend of sound and visuals that keeps viewers engaged. The episode is filled with inventive gags involving musical instruments and slapstick routines. Tom’s attempts to catch Jerry while managing the orchestra result in several funny moments that will make viewers laugh.
Cleverly, in this scene, the director chose Liszt’s "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2". It is famous for its dramatic shifts in tempo and mood, reflecting the style of traditional Hungarian music. It is structured in two main sections, slow section featuring a melancholic melody that gradually builds in intensity. The music here reflects the style of Hungarian folk songs and dances, characterized by a free, improvisational feel.
The second section is different from the first one. This fast section is lively and exuberant. This section bursts into rapid, virtuosic passages that demand exceptional skill and dexterity from the performer.
These contrasting section was well fit into the Tom and Jerry’s vibrant and contrasting relationship in the scene. However, this music was slightly different from the original piece. Timing and pacing play a crucial role in distinguishing the cartoon version from the original. Liszt's composition is designed to be performed with careful attention to tempo and dynamics, allowing for expressive interpretation. In the Tom and Jerry adaptation, however, the music is specifically timed to match the animated action. Changes in tempo and dynamics are exaggerated to correspond with the movements of the characters, often accelerating or slowing down to emphasize key moments of comedy or drama. This synchronization between music and action is essential in creating the overall comedic effect and ensuring that the music enhances rather than distracts from the visual gags.
The musical modifications in the cartoon also involve the addition of sound effects and adaptations for dramatic effect. While the original piece is purely instrumental, focusing on the pianist's performance, the cartoon incorporates exaggerated sound effects that coincide with the visual action. This includes amplified piano key strikes, crashes, and other noises that complement the slapstick elements of the cartoon. Certain sections of the music may be repeated or emphasized to align with specific actions on screen, such as Tom's frantic piano playing or Jerry's clever antics. These modifications help to heighten the comedic impact and provide a continuous auditory cue that aligns with the visual narrative.
Do you want to play this piece, specifically Tom and Jerry’s version of it? Here, CanaCana Family, the pianist's version of the sheet music is available for you.
Great thing about this music sheet is that you will have an accurate sheet music without having to deal with unsophisticated sheet music. This version features all of the elements that were modified in Tom and Jerry’s version. It gives hilarious moments as well, as you can see in the slapstick part in the sheet. It is a difficult task to do unless you have a perfect pitch with the great understanding of the original piece by Liszt. It is amazingly well-done in writing down all of those animated effect into one sheet music.
While this arrangement is not different from the Tom and Jerry’s version that much, it gives a slightly different touch by inserting introduction and coda at the end. While the animation just starts right into Liszt, this version gives you introduction which will add to the different layer that the original and Tom and Jerry’s version would not be able to offer. Next, the coda was well-rearranged as well. It is not distributing the originality in both Tom and Jerry and Liszt.
One tip we could give in order to practice this piece is that you may want to illustrate funny moments. Why do you want to practice Tom and Jerry’s version of the music while Liszt’s version is also available? Most likely, it is because you love the comedic elements of Tom and Jerry’s version that are not found in the original music. In this case, you should be able to understand that this arrangement is meant to deliver funny, hilarious, and joyful mood. The jazzy part in the middle is also a great part to demonstrate this. Focus on these moments will give you the most exciting experience you can get while playing piano. Why don’t you start now? You will get into the amazing world of Tom and Jerry as well as the virtuosity of Liszt by just playing this piece.
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