Defying Gravity, Wicked (Stephen Schwartz)

Question 1

Key

Answer 1

Atonic (can’t tell key

Question 2

Melody

Answer 2

Uses leitmotifs
Unlimited theme - most important melody
First seven notes from ‘somewhere over the rainbow’

Question 3

Intervals

Answer 3

Perfect fourths and perfect fifths - strong, assertive main melody

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

Extended:
Dialogue 1 - verse 1 - chorus - link - verse 2 - chorus - dialogue 2 - bridge 1 - chorus 3 - link 2m- revised intro - vamp - bridge 2 - chorus 4 - coda

Question 5

Articulation

Answer 5

Full range - marcato stabbed chords (very accented) to legato (long)
Three one ostinato - staccato

Question 6

Dynamics

Answer 6

Full range - fortissimo to pianissimo

Question 7

Texture

Answer 7

Full range:
Starts homophonic with monophonic lines
Then MDH
The polyphonic for chorus

Question 8

Colla voce

Answer 8

Voice sings freely and instruments follow

At beginning - metric ambiguity - switched between 3/2 and 2/2

Question 9

Harmony/Tonality

Answer 9

Begins with alienated tonality - shifting harmonies
Major and minor harmonies used throughout
Augmented chords (raised fifths)
Half diminished chords (half flattened)
Bi tonal - two keys at the same time
Suspension - note stays same but chord moves

Question 10

Time signature

Answer 10

2/2 then 4/4

Question 11

Rhythm and metre

Answer 11

Syncopated melody - rubato

Alternates between slow chord accompaniments and driving quaver rhythms

Question 12

Instrumentation

Answer 12

Classical orchestra + popular instruments (electric guitar, drums, synth sounds of keyboards, percussion)
Overdrive - electrically manipulate

Question 13

Beginning

Answer 13

Arguing:
call and response,
chromatic harmony (semitone intervals),
spoken notes,
metric shifts,
stab chords

Question 14

Bar 58 ‘down’

Answer 14

Descending pitch

Word painting

Question 15

Coda

Answer 15

Minor - B minor
Polytonal chords - more than 1 key
Whole tone scale - chords move by tone intervals