Defying Gravity Flashcards
What is a musical
A play where most of the words are sung rather than spoken.
What style is the music
- Catchy tunes – easy to sing! Use of a hook
- Music is in a popular style. Designed to be sung by actors instead of professional singers.
- Many diverse styles: pop music, western classical, jazz and blues and rock and roll music
Musicals structure of songs and methods
- Structure and methods are the same as operas 300 years ago: solo aria (solo song) duets, trios, choruses and dance numbers
- Simple structure with verses and choruses
Musicals band
Usually have a pit band to accompany the singers
Types of musicals
- Broadway - from the USA
- West End - from the UK
- Rock Operas - compilation musicals
Harmony and tonality of intro
chromatic and unrelated chords
Harmony and tonality of verses & choruses
- use of ‘sus’ chords
- root position chords
- Mainly D major
Harmony and tonality of bridge
- G maj
- bitonality created with C maj chord
- unsettled chord changes at the end
Harmony and tonality of reprise
- F maj
- chromatic chord movement
Harmony and tonality of coda
- D maj
- inner pedal
- inverted tonic pedal
Melody is/uses
- recitative
- syllabic word setting
- use of leitmotif
- triadic vocal line in title hook
- colla voce
rhythm - free time
Sections of free time give a different effect to sections with a strong pulse.
rhythm - ostinato
The ostinato in bar 80 creates metrical shifting by changing where the strong beat falls.
rhythm - syncopation
Syncopation plays and important role - push technique used in the title hook.
Rhythm - tempo
Different sections have a different tempo to create shifts in mood.
