defying gravity Flashcards
Is it monophonic, homophonic or polyphonic?
It starts off monophonic in the introduction.
Bar 20 the bass becomes homophonic and chordal- more like a fanfare.
As it builds it becomes polyphonic
What key does it start in?
D flat major for elephaba
D major for Glinda.
Colla voce
follow the voice
Sings in a free manner and the instruments follow
What is the accompaniment like in the beginning?
chordal and sustained.
Creates a distortion effect
The accompaniment matches with the singers creating a homophonic effect.
What instruments are used?
flute
oboe
bass clarinet
bassoon
baritone saxophone
two horns
two trumpets
two trombones
percussion
harp
two violins
viola
cello
double bass
drum kit
two guitars- create a distortion effect
three synthesiser
In bar 89 what key does it change too?
changes to G major
What is the structure of the piece?
introduction- bars 1-14
verse 1- bars 32-49
chorus-bars 49-59
LINK
verse 2-bars 63-79
chorus-bars 80-88
bridge- bars 88-103
chorus-bars 103-11
introduction reprise- bars 115-129
verse 3-bars 129-151
chorus- bars 151-162
coda-bars 162-177
How do the dynamics change?
Verse 1-mp
Verse 2-f
Final chorus-ff
The dynamics change alot as the full range is used.
Many sfz are used and also fp.
In bar 50, the chorus, what rhythms are used in the backing?
hi-hat rhythms
quaver ostinato (short melodic phrase repeated through a piece or composition)
How do glinda and elphaba sing in bar 101?
In unison.
Also returns to d major
What happens in bar 114?
There is homophonic chordal music which leads to the recitative like music.
What happens in bar 122-123
Cymbal roll, crescendo +a key change to A flat major- all add excitement
What happens in bar 135?
Forte dynamic
Melodic and rhythmic ideas are developed.
Verse is at a higher register- more powerful and louder.
What effect does the tubular bell add (bar 147-148)?
an ethereal sonority
What effect do the synth and glock (152)?
creates a high ,magical sound in accompaniment.
What dynamic happens at the end?
A crescendo to ff.
Builds tension and excitement
what is the note range?
highest note is F on the e string.
Lowest note is G string
Who plays in the finale?
whole orchestra-tutti finale
Elphaba, Glinda, ensemble chorus and orchestra in counterpoint.
What key is bar 168-the end?
B minor-dissonance???
What effect do the strings play to create tension?
tremolo effects for lots of the piece
When was defying gravity written?
2003
Who wrote defying gravity?
Stephen Schwartz
American composer-born in 1948
He has a successful career
What is the rhythm of the piece?
3/2
MELODY key features to write about
The word setting is syllabic.
The Melody has a wide range of notes.
It is conjuncg
The verse and chorus use conjunct and disjunct
Leaps often feature a rising perfect fifth (e.g. bar 34 “has changed”).
There are some exceptionally large leaps such as a compound perfect fifth
Often the melody is legato
Starts with spoken words
There are ascending sequences
There are two different leitmotifs particularly used at the beginning.
HARMONY key features to write about.
Most chords are in simple root position
There is some use of dissonance (e.g bar 30)
There is use of pedal notes
TEXTURE key features to write about
Main texture is homophonic
The intro has a sparse texture with chord stabs in the orchestra and some monophonic bars.
Usually sing separately but sometimes in unison.
The outro is polyphonic
Ostinato accompaniment eg bar 88
Sometimes the orchestra play homophonic chordal textures, like at bar 132
TONALITY key features to write about
Mainly in D major
At the start the tonality is ambiguous. It uses unrelated chord sequences and chromatic movement.
Modulates to B major, F major and G major
Ending is in B minor-finishes on a D major chord
RHYTHM,METRE,TEMPO key features to write about
There is frequent syncopation throughout.
The intro starts in 3/2 time, then changes to 2/2 .
When verse 1 starts it then goes into 4/4 time.
At bar 115 (“I hope you’re happy”) it goes back to 2/2 time.
There is colla voce
There are triplets, ralls and dotted rhythms
Phrases often start with rests
INSTRUMENTS/SONORITY key features
Duet for elphaba and glinda
The two singers either speak, sing, or perform their lines half sung half spoken.
Synthesizers and glockenspiels are used for high pitched “magical” sounds-in the final chorus (also with “magical” sounding tubular bells)
The brass plays homophonic chordal music, like a fanfare
The drum kit adds rhythmic momentum with a repeated hi hat in the first chorus.
There is a cymbal roll moving into the chorus which adds excitement.
The strings sometimes use tremolo to add tension (eg the start of verse 1)
