Bernstein, Something's Coming

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Written in 1957
From the musical West Side Story which is set in 1950s New York
Bernstein was influenced by bepop Jazz

Question 2

Melody

Answer 2

Mixture of short snappy riffs and long notes - creates excitement
Longer phrases and higher pitch in middle section “around the corner”
Arch shaped melody
Interval of tritone used eg. “Who knows” (represents something evil or sinister)

Question 3

Rhythm

Answer 3

Changes in metre from 3/4 to 2/4
Syncopation (accents in weaker bits)
Rhythm often ‘pushed’ ahead of the beat - influence of jazz

Question 4

Harmony

Answer 4

Added notes in many chords
Blue notes in chords (some notes are flattened)
Dissonances (including tritone) which is based on jazz
Very first chord includes a tritone

Question 5

Tonality

Answer 5

Starts in D major
Changes to C major on “comin’ to me” (bar 32)
Back to D major on “somethings coming, don’t know when” and “around the corner”

Question 6

Texture

Answer 6

Melody and accompaniment - homophonic
MDH
Layers of riffs in the orchestra

Question 7

Structure

Answer 7

Several musical ideas/sections that recur
2 main sections plus intro and outro
-> section A = “there’s something due any day…”
-> section B = “around the corner…”

Question 8

Dynamics

Answer 8

Starts pp
Crescendo on “shows”, next line is louder
Louder on “around the corner” section
Fades out at the end

Question 9

Instruments and resources

Answer 9

Strings - high sustained on “around the corner”, tremolo on “the air is humming” (excitement)
Woodwind including clarinets, bass clarinets, saxophone
Brass that is added for louder section
Percussion - quiet but busy drum kit part (wire brushes on a snare drum and hi-hat)