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GCSE Edexcel Music > Defying Gravity from Wicked > Flashcards

Defying Gravity from Wicked Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the syllabic nature of the word setting in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The word setting is syllabic throughout.

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2
Q

What is the range of the melody in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The melody has a wide range (fairly high and low!).

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3
Q

How does the melody begin in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The melody starts with stepwise movement (conjunct).

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4
Q

What types of movement are combined in the verse and chorus?

A

The verse and chorus combine stepwise movement and big leaps (disjunct).

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5
Q

How are the words in ‘Defying Gravity’ presented?

A

The syllabic word setting and natural speech-like rhythms make the words clearly understandable.

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6
Q

What vocalization occurs at the end of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

There is vocalization at the very end of the song (‘aah’).

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7
Q

What type of leap is often featured in the melody?

A

Leaps often feature a rising perfect fifth (e.g. bar 34 ‘has changed’).

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8
Q

What is an example of an exceptionally large leap in the melody?

A

There are some exceptionally large leaps such as a compound perfect fifth (13 whole notes! - e.g. bars 140 ‘told me lately everyone deserves..’). These big leaps could be described as angular.

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9
Q

What is the typical style of the melody in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Often the melody is legato (‘you can still be with the wizard’).

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10
Q

What is shown in bars 6 and 7 of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 6 and 7 show an ascending sequence (‘hurt your cause forever, I hope you think you’re clever’).

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11
Q

What is the main tonality of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The piece is mainly in D major.

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12
Q

How is the tonality at the start of ‘Defying Gravity’ described?

A

At the start, the tonality is ambiguous. It uses unrelated chord sequences and chromatic movement.

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13
Q

What key does the piece modulate to during the intro?

A

During the intro, the piece modulates briefly to B major at bar 20, F major at bar 22, and finally gets to the tonic D major at the start of the verse.

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14
Q

What key is the ‘unlimited’ section in?

A

The ‘unlimited’ section is in G major, then it goes back to D major when it returns to the chorus.

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15
Q

What happens in the andante section of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The following andante section (‘well, are you coming?’) returns to the chromatic melody of the intro.

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16
Q

What key does the final verse return to?

A

It returns to D major for the final verse (‘so if you care to find me’).

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17
Q

What is the tonality of the final maestoso section?

A

The final maestoso section is in B minor, before finishing on a D major chord.

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18
Q

What type of chords are used in the intro of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The intro uses chords that are unrelated.

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19
Q

What is the position of most chords in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Most chords are in simple root position.

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20
Q

What is an example of dissonance in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

There is some use of dissonance (e.g. bar 30 (‘I don’t want it, no’)).

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21
Q

What is present at the end of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

At the end, there is a pedal note (bar 168).

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22
Q

Who are the characters in the duet ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

‘Defying Gravity’ is a duet for the characters Elphaba and Glinda.

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23
Q

What vocal range do the two singers cover?

A

The vocal parts cover a range of just under 2 octaves.

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24
Q

Who originally performed the roles of Elphaba and Glinda?

A

Originally they were performed by Idina Menzel (from Frozen) and Kristin Chenoweth (from Glee, American Gods, Rio).

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25
Q

How do the two singers perform their lines?

A

The two singers either speak, sing, or perform their lines half sung half spoken.

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26
Q

What instruments are used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The song uses a big orchestra plus 3 keyboards, drum kit, and electric guitars to create a modern sound.

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27
Q

What features are included in the large orchestra?

A

The large orchestra includes a woodwind section which features additional piccolo, bass clarinet, and cor anglais. The string section includes a harp.

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28
Q

What percussion instruments are used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The wide range of percussion instruments includes a drum kit, tubular bells, and timpani.

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29
Q

What high-pitched sounds are used in the final chorus?

A

Synthesizers and glockenspiels are used for high pitched ‘magical’ sounds, such as in the final chorus (also with ‘magical’ sounding tubular bells).

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30
Q

How does the brass section contribute to ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The brass plays homophonic chordal music, like a fanfare.

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31
Q

What rhythmic element does the drum kit add?

A

The drum kit adds rhythmic momentum with a repeated hi-hat in the first chorus.

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32
Q

What adds excitement moving into the chorus?

A

There is a cymbal roll moving into the chorus which adds excitement.

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33
Q

How do the strings contribute to the texture?

A

The strings sometimes use tremolo to add tension (e.g. the start of verse 1).

34
Q

What is the main texture of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The main texture is homophonic (melody and accompaniment).

35
Q

What is the texture of the intro?

A

The intro has a sparse texture with chord stabs in the orchestra and some monophonic bars.

36
Q

How do Elphaba and Glinda typically sing?

A

Elphaba and Glinda usually sing separately but sometimes sing together in unison (‘there’s no fight we cannot win’) or in harmony (thirds) (‘I hope you’re happy my friend’).

37
Q

What is the texture of the outro?

A

The outro is polyphonic, with Elphaba, Glinda, and the chorus all singing different musical ideas at the same time.

38
Q

What type of accompaniment is present at bar 88?

A

There is an ostinato accompaniment at bar 88.

39
Q

What type of textures does the orchestra play at bar 132?

A

Sometimes the orchestra plays homophonic chordal textures, like at bar 132.

40
Q

What is the background of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

This is a song from the Musical ‘Wicked’ which uses characters and ideas from ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

41
Q

When was ‘Defying Gravity’ first performed?

A

‘Defying Gravity’ was written and first performed in 2003.

42
Q

What elements does music theatre typically include?

A

Music theatre uses songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance in a popular style.

43
Q

Who wrote ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The piece is written by Stephen Schwartz, an American composer and lyricist who also worked on Disney musicals such as Enchanted and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

44
Q

What is the context of ‘Defying Gravity’ in the musical?

A

‘Defying Gravity’ is the finale song for the first act, when Elphaba discovers that the Wizard of Oz is not the heroic figure she had originally believed him to be.

45
Q

What does Elphaba vow to do in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Realizing this, Elphaba vows to do everything in her power to fight the Wizard and his sinister plans.

46
Q

What themes are expressed in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

She sings of how she wants to live without limits, going against the rules that others have set for her.

47
Q

What is the structure of ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

There is a verse chorus form, but within that structure there are multiple sections defined by changes in tempo and mood.

48
Q

What is the tempo of bars 1-19 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 1-19 - Free tempo (like a recitative).

49
Q

What is the tempo of bars 20-33 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 20-33 - Andante (‘you can still be with the wizard’).

50
Q

What is the tempo of bars 34-48 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 34-48 - Andante - verse 1 (‘something has changed..’).

51
Q

What is the tempo of bars 49-87 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 49-87 - Allegro - Chorus, verse 2, chorus 2.

52
Q

What is the tempo of bars 88-102 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 88-102 - Moderato - A contrasting section in G major (‘unlimited’).

53
Q

What is the tempo of bars 103-110 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 103-110 - Allegro - Chorus, back in D major.

54
Q

What is the tempo of bars 111-128 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 111-128 - Andante - Similar to the intro.

55
Q

What is the tempo of bars 129-161 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 129-161 - Allegro - Verse 3 and chorus 3. The climax of the song! Full orchestra and loud dynamics.

56
Q

What is the tempo of bars 162-177 in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Bars 162-177 - Andante to Maestoso - Outro - build up to finale.

57
Q

What are some characteristics of the song structure in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Pop song inspired with catchy hooks and big choruses.

58
Q

How is the melody line carried in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Melody line carried by singers in a mixture of solos, duets, and ensemble numbers.

59
Q

What vocal quality is often used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Often uses a very wide range with a belting vocal quality for powerful and loud high notes.

60
Q

How does ‘Defying Gravity’ carry the plot forward?

A

Can use a mixture of singing and talking to carry the plot forward.

61
Q

What vocalizations are frequently used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Makes use of vocalisations (‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’).

62
Q

What is frequently used at the ends of phrases in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Frequent use of melisma at the ends of phrases to show expression and emotion.

63
Q

What dynamic extremes are often used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Often uses dynamic extremes (piano to forte… and even wider).

64
Q

How are dynamics used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Dynamics used to emphasise the drama in the lyrics.

65
Q

How do tempos change in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Tempos frequently change in songs as the emotional drive of the character singing changes.

66
Q

What techniques are used to add suspense and drama in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Ralls (slow downs) and accels (speed ups) are used to add suspense and drama.

67
Q

What song structure conventions are used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Songs use pop song structure conventions (verse, bridge, chorus, etc.) but extend these in imaginative ways.

68
Q

What is the flexibility of musical structures in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Very flexible and irregular musical structures to follow the unfolding story told by the lyrics.

69
Q

How are musicals typically structured?

A

Musicals are in two acts and are built from a series of numbers - individual songs which advance the story.

70
Q

What chord progressions are used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Uses pop song chord progressions and are built from mainly chords I, IV, V, and vi.

71
Q

What is the purpose of modulations in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Modulations (key changes) are used to build energy and drama (especially by going up one tone or semitone).

72
Q

What creates ambiguity and atmosphere in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

More mysterious sections use unrelated chords to create ambiguity and atmosphere.

73
Q

What is often used underneath spoken dialogue in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Pedal drones are often used underneath spoken dialogue or to link musical numbers or sections together.

74
Q

How have modern musicals evolved in terms of instrumentation?

A

Earlier musicals used an orchestra, but modern musicals add rock instruments to the classical one in order to create a more modern sound.

75
Q

How do performers bridge the line between singing and acting?

A

Performers often bridge the line between singer and actor through speak-singing (half spoken).

76
Q

What rhythmic characteristics are common in musical theatre numbers?

A

Musical theatre numbers are usually rhythmically interesting with dotted rhythms and triplets used to add variety.

77
Q

What rhythmic technique is frequently used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Syncopation is used frequently to add interest and create a pop-like sound.

78
Q

How do time signatures change in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Time signatures frequently change in order to fit the lyrics (storytelling is the most important aspect).

79
Q

How does the rhythm of the melody feel in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

The rhythm of the melody is often built from natural speech rhythms so it feels conversational.

80
Q

What type of homophony is mostly used in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Mostly uses melody dominated homophony (melody and accompaniment).

81
Q

What creates interesting textural colors in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Lots of interesting textural colours created by combining different parts of the orchestra and rock band line-up.

82
Q

When do polyphonic textures occur in ‘Defying Gravity’?

A

Polyphonic textures sometimes occur when multiple characters or songs are layered on top of one another.

GCSE Edexcel Music (7 decks)

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