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A-level Music Edexcel > Elfman: Batman Returns > Flashcards

Elfman: Batman Returns Flashcards

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1
Q

When was Batman Returns released?

A

1992

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2
Q

Through the score, what 3 themes reoccur?

A

Batman’s theme
Catwoman’s theme
The Penguin’s theme

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3
Q

To perhaps reflect the theme of Batman Returns that all 3 main characters has suffered some great trauma, what has been done?

A

The 3 themes are all very similar melodically (visually look at them)

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4
Q

How do the 3 themes differ?

A

Orchestration
Rhythm

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5
Q

How is Batman’s theme unique?

A

Brass instruments to portray Batman

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6
Q

How is Catwoman’s theme unique?

A

Catwoman portrayed by slinky string sounds with…
High glissandi
Dissonant clusters

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7
Q

How is The Penguin’s theme unique?

A

Most theatrical:
Often using…
A chorus of voices
Pipe organ
Full orchestra

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8
Q

How is the mood of ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’ reflected as the wealthy Cobblepots abandon their baby?

A

Chilling way the soundtrack opens:
Low notes on organ (instrument associated with the Penguin, religious, expensive like parents)

=> threat and danger

The ‘Batman’ theme heard on horns over the top

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9
Q

How is innocence suggested in comparison to threat and danger in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’?

A

Children’s voices
Music-box quality of the celesta

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10
Q

What is happening musically during the shot of Penguin disappearing into the sewer in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’?

A

A two-bar coda

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11
Q

What is the two-bar coda in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’ written for?

A

Harp
Low strings

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12
Q

What does the cue ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’ accompany?

A

Film’s main titles

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13
Q

What happens when the film’s title appears in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’?
When does this happen?

A

Triumphant C major chord
Followed by a militaristic version of the ‘Batman’ theme
Bar 21

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14
Q

Describe the atmosphere of ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’

A

Melodramatic
Portentous

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15
Q

What adds to the dark, troubled atmosphere of ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’?

A

Use of predominantly low orchestral sounds
Frequent key changes

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16
Q

What happens to create an almost sigh like or sound of comfort in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’?
When?

A

Falling minor third pattern in the voices
Bar 55

17
Q

How does ‘Batman vs the Circus’ open?
What happens on screen?
What happens musically then?

A

Quietly in low strings

Batman signal sent to alert Batman of danger in Gotham city
Batman’s theme on brass
Over a long crescendo

18
Q

What happens a bar 13 of ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

A

Less sinister
More cartoonish with ‘oom-pah-pah’ style trombones

19
Q

How is the the threatening atmosphere kept in ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

A

Allusion to murder scene in Psycho in violins, bar 25

20
Q

Describe the music in ‘Batman vs the Circus’ from bar 26

A

Manic
Fast
Lively

21
Q

What happens at bar 26 of ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

A

Start of madcap xylophone solo

22
Q

Give two examples of the orchestral effects in ‘Batman vs the Circus’

A

Trumpet extreme lip trill (bars 50-51)
Oboe extremely wide vibrato (bars 57-58)

23
Q

What unusual instruments are used in ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

A

Fairground steam organ
Swannee whistle

24
Q

What contributes to the unsettling nature of ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

A

Changing time signatures throughout

25
Q

What does ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’ begin with?

A

New theme in cello and basses

26
Q

In ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’ what accompanies appearances of Catwoman?

A

Harp glissando leads to high-pitched violins

27
Q

What is heard beneath the new theme and appearances of Catwoman in ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’?

A

Penguin’s theme on harp and organ

28
Q

At bar 20 of ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’, what solo appears?
What theme is this related to?

A

A jokey accordion solo
Features music related to the Penguin’s theme in the bass

29
Q

At bar 30 and onwards, what references ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’?

A

The celesta

30
Q

Describe the theme that appears in bar 47 of ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’?

A

Pompous
C minor

31
Q

What does the theme from bar 47 SUDDENLY change to in ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’?
What effect does this create?

A

3 bars (50-52) based on a whole tone scale
Unsettling

32
Q

What key does ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’ end in?

A

Triumphant C major

A-level Music Edexcel (13 decks)

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