elements of music - birth of a penguin part 1

Question 1

melody

Answer 1

• cue begins with batman theme
• constant regerral to penguin leitmotif (conjunct), developed throughout the music
• broken chord / arpeggion figures in the music eg in harp and celesta b 18 (contrary motion) and descending in violins b 28
• descending arpeggios in harp at end, harp plays variation of penguin theme before segue into part 2

Question 2

harmony & tonality

Answer 2

• strong use of minor tonality
• unprepared modulations of keys
• tertiary relationship between kets and chords
• pedal notes eg. b 1
• open chords / bare 5ths eg. b 46
• dominant 7th b 45

Question 3

tempo, rhythm & metre

Answer 3

• use of augmentation eg. b 1-14
• changing of metre - eg begins in 3/2 for 2 bars then 4/4, 1 bar of 3/8 at b 13
• predominantly uses quavers & semiquavers (virtually no triplets in this cue) - strong sense of 1st beat of bar
• rit as they prepare to throw, slower tempo and another rit as baby is thrown into river (tension, dramatic)
• rit in last 2 bars - release of tension
• rhythmic ostinati eg semiquaver movement in violins b 28
• some syncopation eg choir b 28

Question 4

sonority

Answer 4

• wide range, often chords spanning multiple octaves (achieved with instruments with low timbres eg pipe organ, contrabassoon)
• large orchestral arrangement - includes pipe organ, celesta, contrabassoon, harp, bell, sleigh bells + choir & synthesiser
• techniques eg. harp gliss, cymbal roll, pizzicato, muted trumpets, tremolo violins
• create dramatic, eerie atmosphere

Question 5

texture

Answer 5

• changes in texture throughout the music
• sparser texture at start - pipe organ, timpani, horns - introduces other intruments/sections - tutti at b 14
• often melodies doubled in octaves - characteristic of elfman
• some monophonic textures eg b 14 with melody played in octaves over chord
• polyphonic textures eg b 28

Question 6

structure

Answer 6

• structured around scenes on the screen - eg modulations often occur for new ideas/scenes
• tension at beginning - low timbres and batman theme for warner bros logo
• scenes of house - tension - foreshadow
• sleigh bells & choir when scenes move to outside (christmas)
• after baby is thrown - quieter section, more subdued, releasing tension

Question 7

phrasing, articulation & dynamics

Answer 7

• often very detailed dynamics in the score
• extreme dynamic changes to build tension / prepare for new scene / modulation etc (eg b 5&6)
• end of cue - crescendo to forte, contrasted with piano in next bar (release of tension as baby floats away)
• parts often marked with accents (or sfortzando) - more dramatic (eg b 28 accents on violin arpeggios)
• staccato in strings b 18
• detailed phrase markings - often emphasises penguin theme