Defying Gravity - Schwartz (Wicked)

Question 1

Apart from a full orchestra, what instruments are used?

Answer 1

guitar, piano, drumkit

Question 2

How is the music marked at the beginning?

Answer 2

colla voce (with voice)

Question 3

What is the key at the beginning?

Answer 3

ambiguous

Question 4

How are the chords played at the beginning?

Answer 4

stab

Question 5

What is the basic structure of the song?

Answer 5

song : verse, chorus

Question 6

Describe the melody in verse 1

Answer 6

legato, conjunct

Question 7

Describe two features of the accompaniment in verse 1

Answer 7

tremolo strings

dissonant harmonies

Question 8

List 4 ways the different sections are created

Answer 8

frequent changes of: key, tempo, dynamics, texture

Question 9

Where does the unlimited theme come from?

Answer 9

uses the first 7 notes of ‘somewhere over the rainbow’

Question 10

When is the chordal motif used?

Answer 10

start of each verse

Question 11

Where can the three note ostinato be heard?

Answer 11

backing of the chorus

Question 12

What is the key of the piece (mainly)?

Answer 12

(D) major

Question 13

What is the general word-setting of the piece?

Answer 13

syllabic

Question 14

What is the main texture of the piece?

Answer 14

melody-dominated homophony

Question 15

What is the texture of the final section?

Answer 15

polyphonic

Question 16

List 5 ways that the music in the song reflects the changing moods of the two characters

Answer 16

Changes in :

key , dynamics, tempo , texture, motifs

Question 17

The interval of a rising 5th is often used in the vocal melody - what does this signify?

Answer 17

assertive, strong character

Question 18

List 3 musical devices used to create a sense of climax

Answer 18

dynamics, tempo changes, texture builds

Question 19

Describe the tempo in the intro

Answer 19

rubato

Question 20

What is a leitmotif?

Answer 20

phrase or piece of music that represents a particular character (place, or emotion)

Question 21

What does Schwartz use leitmotifs to do?

Answer 21

link the songs together

Question 22

Give one example of word-painting in the piece

Answer 22

‘close my eyes and leap’ : melody leaps

Question 23

The harmony uses suspended chords - what is this?

Answer 23

chords with a second or fourth instead of third

Question 24

Give one rhythmic feature that highlights the conflicting emotions

Answer 24

syncopation