3- Defying Gravity - Stephen Schwartz

Question 1

Context Defying Gravity

Answer 1

by Stephen Schwartz (1948-…)

Question 2

Melody Defying Gravity

Answer 2

Syllabic throughout
Vocalisations bar 175 “aah”
Melody starts conjunct/stepwise manner
Sequences bar 6 and 7
wide angular leaps
leaps rising in perfect 5ths (e.g. bar 34) or compound 4th (bar 39) or compound 5th (bar 140)

Question 3

Articulation Defying Gravity

Answer 3

Accents - reflects rising tension/anger

Question 4

Dynamics Defying Gravity

Answer 4

• Dynamics - reflects rising tension/anger
  Climax - loud dynamics

Question 5

Texture Defying Gravity

Answer 5

opening - Sparse texture - with punctuating instrumental chord stabs

monophonic unaccompanied bars e.g. bar 3

melody- dominated homophonic texture in verse

Homophonic chordal moments e.g. bar 132

Ostinato accompaniment bar 88

Repeated semiquavers bar 88

E and G usually sing separately/ sometimes in unions
(bar 101) or harmonies in 3rds (Bar 127)

Ending is contrapuntal

Question 6

Structure Defying Gravity

Answer 6

Verse - chorus form
Verse bar 34, bar 63, bar 135
Chorus bar 50, bar 79, bar 103, bar 151
3 verses - write in where they appear
4 chorus
sections in free tempo/ andante/ allegro

Question 7

Harmony Defying Gravity

Answer 7

Chords in root position

Chord progression is unrelated and in two shifts downwards in parallel semitones

e.g. D chord to Csharp minor chord to C major chord

Dissonance bar 30

Pedal at bar 168

Perfect cadences e.g. bar 62

Interupted cadence bar 79

Long sustained chords in accompaniment

Sus 2 chords bar 147

Question 8

Counterpoint Definition

Answer 8

One or more independent melodies added above or below a given melody which creates a polyphonic texture.

Question 9

Dissonance Defintion

Answer 9

Notes that clash with the underlying chord

Question 10

Instruments Defying Gravity

Answer 10

Big orchestra - strings play tremolos - adds tension bar 34

brass - plays homophonic chordal music - fanfare

Full brass joins in the chorus

High repeated quaver patterns in the chorus on synthesizer and glockenspiel - magical sounds

Cymbal rolls - moving into chords - excitement - moving into a change of key bar 122

Snare drum - to make a point where Elphaba interrupts Glinder

Drum fills –> adds rhythmic interest

Hi-hat on drums in chorus adds momentum/forward movement bar 51

Guitar effect in first verse overdrive

Electric guitar - modern sound - overdrive, distortion effect

Lower chordal accompaniment in verse adds suspense

Vibrato used in voice

Duet between E and G - spoken dialogue

full band plays at climax bar 135

tubular bells give an ethereal sonority at bar 147

Question 11

Overdrive Definition

Answer 11

a distortion effect

Question 12

Colla Voca Defintion

Answer 12

Follow the solo voice - an indication that the vocal part sings in a free manner and the other instruments should follow

Question 13

Rhythm, Tempo, Metre

Answer 13

many tempo changes–> Free tempo, Andante, Allegro…

Rallentandos as end of sections

3/2 time to 2/2 time in opening
4/4 time at bar 88

Syncopation bar 67

Dotted Rhythms e.g. bar 82 “gra-vi-ty”

Triplets used
Quaver triplets e.g. bar 96
Crotchet triplets e.g. bar 60

Rhythm mainly quavers and crotchets

Rests used to break up phrases

Each phrase starts with off- beat entry after a crotchet rest e.g. bar 15

Fermatas/ pause marking used to lengthen and give freedom to longer rhythms e.g. bar 174

Question 14

Tonality

Answer 14

Chromatic movement
D major
Bar 20 - B major
Bar 22 - F major
Bar 32 - D major
Bar 88 - G major
Bar 103 - D major
Bar 115 - chromatic melody
Bar 132 - D major
Bar 168 - B minor
End - D major

Question 15

Maestoso Definiton

Answer 15

In a majestic manner