Elfman 1992

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Scores music around leitmotifs, create unity between often fragmented language of cinema
Uses full palette of instruments
Extremely detailed articulation, frequent time signature changes, characteristic of Elfman
Batman must prevent the Penguin from killing all of Gotham City’s firstborn sons whilst dealing with Catwoman.

Question 2

Melody

Answer 2

Leitmotifs represent main characters and action
Villanous Penguin leitmotif
Penguin leitmotif developed
Batman leitmotif
Batman leitmotif developed

Question 3

Penguin leitmotif

Answer 3

Rising and falling semitones

(Before, Wagner’s Ring Cycle, represent theme, character, idea. Developed to match story) sinister nature

Question 4

Penguin leitmotif developed

Answer 4

BOAP1, developed with use of organ, strings, choir, evoke Gothic theatrical fear

BOAP1 end, developed with harps and violins add tonic D between every note, open interval of 5th, unresolved, mysterious

Question 5

Batman leitmotif

Answer 5

Rise up minor scale, falls chromatically (Before, Superman’s theme, John Williams, perfect 5th, major, triplets) opposite, duality between 2 personalities, villain and hero (Before, Siegfried, Wagner, tragic hero)

Question 6

Batman leitmotif developed

Answer 6

BOAP2, theme in diminution

BC, Intermitant, underscoring, chaos on screen,
Overall used to create unity between often fragmented language of cinema

Question 7

Harmony

Answer 7

Functional language with frequent perfect cadences, mark start of new happening on screen
Tritones and diminished chords
False relations
Whole tone chords and bare 5ths
Octave tonic pedal notes

Question 8

Tritones and diminished chords

Answer 8

BC, tritone, cluster chord
(After, Until Death do us Part, Corpse Bride)
RAF, augmented triads
BOAP2, diminished triads, Devil’s interval, evoke fear, indicates evil

Question 9

False relations

Answer 9

BOAP1, reflects father’s scream

Question 10

Whole tone chords and bare 5ths

Answer 10

RAF, open, mysterious, suspense

Question 11

Octave tonic pedal notes

Answer 11

BOAP2, pram goes down the sewer, very low, very sinister (After, Gotham’s Reckoning, Hans Zimmer, ominous opening pedal)

Question 12

Tonality

Answer 12

Not structurally significant
Minor keys used throughout
Tertiary modulations
Use fo the whole tone scale

Question 13

Not structurally significant

Answer 13

Each cue starts and ends in different key, BOAP2, Dmin, C#min
Through composed, matches screen action (After, Sky Battle, HP and the Deathly Hallows

Question 14

Minor keys throughout

Answer 14

BOAP1, C#maj, only major key in cue when parents reach bridge, otherwise to indicate evil
(After, Gotham’s Reckoning, Hans Zimmer, minor)
Minor hero leitmotif, duality between villain and hero

Question 15

Tertiary modulations

Answer 15

BC, E min C#maj, striking modulation, surprise, characteristic of Elfman
(After, Until Death do us Part, Corpse Bride)

Question 16

Use of the whole tone scale

Answer 16

RAF, weakens tonal argument, creates mystery and suspense

Question 17

Texture

Answer 17

Constantly changes
Mel dom hom
Layering
Homophony

Question 18

Constantly changing texture

Answer 18

Match action on screen

After, Victor Drops the Ring, The Corpse Bride

Question 19

Mel dom hom

Answer 19

BOAP2, Batman motif for emphasis

Before, Jaws, Williams, wind melody over relentless 2 note ostinato

Question 20

Layering

Answer 20

BC, start with pedal, add leitmotif and semiquaver accompaniment, build up tension to the Batsignal

Question 21

Homophony

Answer 21

BOAP1, beginning, organ, choir, orchestra, emphasise the theatrical fear evoked by the instruments

Question 22

Tempo, Rhythm and metre

Answer 22

Tempo frequently changes
Semiquaver ostinati
Fanfare-like triplets against syncopation, cross rhythms
Rhythmic stabbing quavers
Metre frequently changes

Question 23

Tempo frequently changes

Answer 23

Reflect screen action

Question 24

Semiquaver ostinati

Answer 24

In celeste, strings, harp anticipation before pram is thrown into the sewer
(After, The Dark Knight, Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard, string ostinato)

Question 25

Fanfare-like triplets against syncopation, cross rhythms

Answer 25

BOAP2, express heroism against evil

Question 26

Rhythmic stabbing quavers

Answer 26

BC,

(Before, Opening of King Kong, offbeat stabs) evoke fear, reflect screen action

Question 27

Metre frequently changes

Answer 27

Through composed, reflect constantly changing action

After, Gotham’s Reckoning, Dark Knight, does not change in metre

Question 28

Sonority

Answer 28

Instrumentation, more wacky than John Williams, more conventional
Variety of instrumental techniqes

Question 29

Instrumentation, strong resemblance to John Williams

Answer 29

Large orchestral score, large orchestral palate to express drama on screen
(Before, Episode 4 Star Wars, John Williams)
Pipe organ, Gothic, evoke theatrical fear
Harp, low range, close micced, sinister, otherworldly
Celeste, childlike
Accordion,
Tubular bells
Fairground steam organ, circus
Choir vocalisation, sleigh bells reminiscent of carol singers and winter
(Just after, Helicopter string quartet, Stockhausen, unconventional orchestral instruments)

Question 30

Variety of string techniques

Answer 30

Strings, tremolandi, pizz, gliss
Woodwind, flute fluttertongue, oboe wide vibrato, evoke fear
Brass, mutes
Percussion, cymbal and timpani roll, adds energy into next section of BOAP1
Very detailed performance directions, characteristic of Elfman
(1 year after, Elfman, The Nightmare before Christmas)

Question 31

Structure

Answer 31

Through composed, built on leitmotifs when film action requires it