Herrmann, Psycho, Prelude Flashcards
When was Psycho made?
What type of film was Psycho?
1960
Horror
Who made Psycho?
When did they become a composer?
Alfred Hitchcock
When he met Orson Welles
Why were only strings used in Psycho?
Innovative cost cuts
Matched black & white screen
(sonority)
Divisi meaning in Psycho
Divide instrument sections into multiple sections (8)
used often
What deadens/muffles the sound in Psycho?
Mute for most of score
Had previously been unused for a long time
How was Herrmann specific about bowing?
Down bowing on open staccato notes as more dramatic
Shower scene - stabbing visuals mimicked in music
(sonority)
How is pitz used in Prelude?
Bar 31
Violin 2
Muted
Repeating two notes (like jaws)
(sonority)
What does sol ponticello mean?
Play as close to bridge as possible
Scratchy
(sonority)
Describe the use of gliss
Murder scene
High notes & down bows = stabbing rhythm
(sonority)
Describe the use of vibrato
None in cellar scene
Cold & inexpressive sound
(sonority)
What playing techniques does the Psycho music use?
Pizz
Sol ponticello
Tremolando
Gliss
No vibrato
Phrase of chromatic tremolo & sol ponticello
(sonority)
What is the feeling/mood of the Prelude?
Unsettled
What is the purpose of the Prelude?
Introduces 4 short motifs/ostinatos
What is non-functional harmony?
Chords form moods rather than serve a purpose
Don’t fit tension & release cycle
(harmony)
Describe the texture
Homorhythm: similar movement of different parts
Homophonic
(texture)
Describe the different rhythms in Prelude
Triplets
Syncopated
(rhythm)
Describe the movement of the melody
Conjunct
(melody)
What intervals are interlocking?
What size of movement is there a focus on?
3rds
Semitones
(melody)
Describe idea 1
Stabbing Hitchcock chord introduces music - minor triad w/ major 7th, dissonant
Stabbing, unpredictable rhythm
(melody)
What is the tone of idea 1?
No tonal centre
After idea 1 is introduces, what does it continue on?
Basses & cellos
What plays ides 1 as it leads into idea 2?
2nd violins
Describe idea 2
Alternating, falling semitones
Violin 1 atonal rhythm
Describe the tone of idea 2
No sense of key & clashing harmonies = uneasy
Describe idea 3
Dotted rhythm
syncopated bass
Made up of ostinatos
Returns to ideas 1 & 2
Describe idea 4
Ghostly tune
Psycho theme
When does idea 4 enter?
What instruments is it heard on?
Bar 47
soaring violins, then on high violins
What are all 4 ideas?
When are they reused?
Leitmotifs
6 times throughout film
