Godspell Flashcards
What is the scoring of Godspell?
Cast of 10 singers
Keyboards (using differeent sounds e.g. piano, organ)
Acoustic guitar
Bass guitar
Electric guitar
Drums
Percussion
Recorder (Jeffrey’ solo!)
At what points int he play are songs generally positioned?
When the disciples are committing themselves to Jesus
Why would Schwartz have been influenced by folk rock?
His parents were keen on folk music
How do the musicals of Schwartz contrast those of Lloyd Webber?
Schwartz composed in more of a folk rock/folk pop/motown style, whilst Lloyd Webber was more influenced by classical music/opera and incorporated more rock n roll elements in his musicals
Why was strong rhythmic impetus important in the styles of music chosen?
The conceptualisation of the play called for joyful singing and dancing - musical dance forms were needed to capture this
How did Schwartz prevent his melodies becoming hymn-like and rigid?
Due to using lyrics from hymns Schwartz needed to rely on rhythm to give the music a more modern feel
Instead of starting on the first beat of a bar or an anacrusis, the melody starts at a different point in the bar.
Use of syncopation and pulsing rhythmic melodies
What does Schwartz accredit Day By Day’s success to?
Its simplicity and repetitiveness
How did the available cast affect Schwartz’s musical choices?
Choice of musical style: Made Turn Back O’ Man a Mea Westian style number to align with the way the actress Sonia Manzano played her character
Instrumentation: Recorder solo added in All Good Gifts due to cast member Jeffrey Mylett being able to play the recorder
How is musical style used to convey the narrative in the Prologue?
Different philosophers are each assigned their own melodies and musical styles to show contrast in their theories.
How does the “Tower of Babble” create a chaotic atmosphere?
Use of syncopations, 7th chords and irregular phrases whilst philosophers sing “Babble Babble” all at once.
Intricate counterpoint at the end when all philosophers sing their respective melodic idea over each others.
How is tonality used in the Prologue to convey disagreement and uncertainty?
Bitonality - oscillates between F# and E major
Unsure sense of key reflects uncertainty over the beginnings of the universe
Which musical styles are used in the Prologue for each philosopher?
Socrates: Recitative over wandering harmonies
Thomas Aquinas: G&S patter song then recitative ‘romantically’ with arpeggiated accompaniment
Martin Luther: Parody of a German-style march - square crotchets and quavers
Leonardo da Vinci & Edward Gibbon: Classical duet marked “a la Mozart” but with chromaticism
Nietzshe: Doubles harmonic rhythm, whole notes, questioning, late classical/early romantic style
Jean-Paul Sartre & Buckminster Fuller (alternating): Sartre has quavers to a march accompaniment whilst Fuller had bluesy triplets
How is the melody in Prepare Ye (The Way of The Lord) developed?
Through repetition and gradual addition of accompaniment
How does the melody of Prepare Ye (The Way of The Lord) get its spiritual feel?
Phrase 1 starts on mediant and ends on supertonic - which gives it an uncertain tonality as there is no stress on the tonic, especially at the start when it is performed by solo voice with no accompaniment. This gives it a modal feel (C dorian).
This ‘open’ feel is resolved when the melody turns at the end of phrase 2 to land on the tonic, Bb.
How does Save the People retain its upbeat and simplistic sound?
Harmonic simplicity: Stays in G major throughout and doesn’t use any extended chords
4/4 time signature and marked “Brightly”
