title: Get commit metadata from remote repository without fetching commit content
body: <p>I would like to get commit metadata like that returned by the <code>git cat-file -p &lt;COMMIT-ID&gt;</code> (see this example from Git itself)</p>
  
  <pre><code> $ git cat-file -p a4ee444
  
   tree 34f4cce68fd066d044dcbca866a161fa5c98dc6b
   parent 1f9c1fab6421402a9c893a2fcd35fb4cf6116166
   parent ffa952497288d29d94b16675c6789ef83850def3
   author Junio C Hamano &lt;gitster@pobox.com&gt; 1518737095 -0800
   committer Junio C Hamano &lt;gitster@pobox.com&gt; 1518737095 -0800
   mergetag object ffa952497288d29d94b16675c6789ef83850def3
    type commit
    tag v2.16.2
    tagger Junio C Hamano &lt;gitster@pobox.com&gt; 1518737031 -0800
  
    Git 2.16.2
    -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
              ...
    -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
  
   Sync with 2.16.2
  
   * tag 'v2.16.2':
     Git 2.16.2
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>but without having to fetch the entire commit with all its files.</p>
  
  <p>Does anyone know if it is possible to get this remote information via the <code>git</code> client program, or by some other means, like using Git's internal transfer protocols?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>