Defying Gravity Flashcards
Who is the composer of Wicked?
Stephen Schwartz
What is a leitmotif?
a recurring musical idea which is associated with a particular theme, character or place.
motif
a short melodic phrase of just a few notes
metrical shifting
the downbeat (beat 1) of a part is shifted to a different part of the bar.
augmented chord
a triad built on 2 major thirds (4 semitones + 4 semitones) Ab-C-E or F, A, C~
homophonic
a texture comprising a melody part and an accompaniment in which parts move together
texture
the interaction or layering of different parts/instruments
harmony
how notes are combined (as chords)
tonality
In a piece, the relationship of notes within a scale or mode to a principal note (the tonic) and whether this changes (modulates) during the piece.
dynamics
how loud or soft parts are played
sonority
The nature and quality of musical sounds - the instruments used and what sound quality (timbre) they make.
colla voce
with the voice. An instruction for the band to follow the singer’s tempo.
Tremolo
rapid playing on the same note producing a wavering, tremulous sound. Mainly on string instruments with a bow.
Bare fifth
a chord with only notes 1 and 5 so lacking the third. This creates an open, ambiguous sound as there is no third dictating whether major or minor.
recitative
a section (in opera) that quickly moves the action on through fast-paced ‘conversational’ lines and modulating phrases to get to the next proper number.
The Unlimited Theme
a leitmotif used in Wicked using the first seven notes of the song ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ from ‘The Wizard of Oz’. It appears in Defying Gravity as well as other numbers in the musical.
vocalisation
wordless singing using vowel syllables such as ‘ah’.
coda
the end section of a piece
interrupted cadence
a cadence that sounds like it is going to resolve like a perfect cadence to chord 1 (the tonic) but surprises by moving somewhere different so extending a phrase or creating a sense of unfinished. (ii - V - vi rather than ii - V - I)
polytonal chords
chords that are built on two or more keys or scales. i.e. a left hand CEG chord (C major) and a right hand GBDF# (G major)
Instrumentation in Defying Gravity?
electric guitars, drums, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, bassoon, baritone saxophone, two horn, two trumpets (with mutes), two trombones, percussion, harp, two violins (sometimes pizzicato), viola, cello, bass, three electronic synthesisers
dramatic song
a song that moves the plot forward
ostinato
a repeating pattern - can be melodic or rhythmic
legato
smooth articulation - no gaps between notes
