Killer queen

Question 1

What time signature is the piece in and what effect does this create?

Answer 1

12/8- this gives the piece a swung feel.

Question 2

What is the vocal style of the piece?

Answer 2

Syllabic

Question 3

Is verse 1 monophonic ,polyphonic or homophonic?

Answer 3

homophonic

Question 4

What key is this piece in ?

Answer 4

its main tonality is e flat major.

Question 5

What instruments/effects are used in this event?

Answer 5

Vocals-just Freddie Mercury-uses overdubbing and sings all parts.
Piano.
‘jangle piano’
Electric guitar.
Bass guitar
Drum kit and percussion.

Question 6

What are the dynamics of the piece?

Answer 6

There are no dynamics printed but piece is played at a comfortable MF

Question 7

What effect do the backing vocals create?

Answer 7

Create gospel inspired parallel harmonies that weave in and out of the main vocal-provide harmonic support like synth chords.

Question 8

What is the form and structure of the piece?

Answer 8

introduction - bars 1 and 2
verse 1 - bars 2 to 14
chorus 1 - bars 15 to 22
instrumental link - bars 23 to 26
verse 2 - bars 27 to 38
chorus 2 - bars 39 to 43
guitar solo - bars 44 to 61
verse 3 - bars 62 to 69
chorus 3 - bars 70 to 78
outro - from bar 79 until the end.

Question 9

What happens from bars 7-11?

Answer 9

it is a 5 bar phrase ending with a ‘rhythmic trip’.
Backing vocal use words and vocalisation.
There is used of extended chords- brief change in metre/time - compound duple.
Shared between the band members, a descending chromatic bassline is heard in bars 7 to 9-highlights the flamboyancy of the song.

Question 10

What is the texture like at the start?

Answer 10

The texture is melody-dominated homophony.
There is a clear melody line and the accompaniment mostly plays block chords on each beat.
It builds up gradually- 6 clicks ,voice and right hand chords only, then left hand piano enters- then finally bass and drums.
There is imitation between the voice and the electric guitar at points in the song, e.g. following the ‘willing as’ the guitar repeats the same notes in imitation bar 62 on beat 4.

Question 11

What is a characteristic feature of the piece?

Answer 11

The use of unusual phrase lengths and the clever reuse of phrases in different sections-key feature of melodic writing.

Question 12

Is the range of the melody big?

Answer 12

The melody has a high range (very high- very low)

Question 13

What is the tempo like and what effect does it have on the piece?

Answer 13

Many of the rhythms are dotted crotchet to quaver, which gives the song a swung feel.
Syncopation is found at various points in the melody-helps create the upbeat feel. Each new section begins with an
anacrusis.

Question 14

What key does it modulate to in chorus 1?

Answer 14

Modulates to b flat major
There is a 5 bar phrase of echo/answer.

Question 15

What accompanies the singing on laser beam?

Answer 15

Flanger- creates a swooshing sound.
Combines a source audio and an overlapping melody.
Bar 17.

Question 16

How are most of the chords in the piece played?

Answer 16

Most of the chords are in root position- there are occasionally some chord inversions.
They are adventurous, extended chords.

Question 17

What effect does the wah wah create?

Answer 17

gives the instrument a wah wah sound.

Question 18

What happens in the backing vocals?

Answer 18

they are panned.
They use a mixture of words and vocalisation.

Question 19

How is verse 2 structured?

Answer 19

the music is the same as verse 1- rhythm is changed to fit it.
There is a roll on the suspended cymbal.
A held pedal note.
There are 4 part vocal harmonies- all overdubbed and sung by Freddie mercury.

Question 20

What is the sonority of the song?

Answer 20

Some techniques used by the guitar include:
a pitch bend- bar 30,
a slide -bar 34
a palm mute - bar 69
light distortion- throughout.
Freddie Mercury uses a
portamento-between the two syllables of ‘queen’ in each chorus.
Many of the techniques used in Killer Queen that enhance the sonority of the song were added in the recording studio:
These effects include reverb
on the lead vocals and stereo
panning.
These can be heard in bar 19 and during the overlapping guitar parts in bar 55.

Question 21

What happens in bar 38?

Answer 21

There is spoken text- for a dramatic effect.

Question 22

What were Queen specially known for?

Answer 22

a 4 part close harmony-carefully crafted backing vocals.
Use of technology and multi tracking- creates rich textures.

Question 23

What happens in bars 46-50?

Answer 23

There is a return of a similar melodic motif- important feature.
Guitars 3 and 4 -imitate against guitar.
There is a three part guitar texture.
In the guitar- there is a portamento/slide/gliss.

Question 24

For 4 bars at 50 what happens?

Answer 24

they play the same as verse 1.
There is vibrato in the guitar.

Question 25

What effect is created in bar 55?

Answer 25

Bell/hocketing effect is created as guitar entries are overlapped.
Same as verse 1- 5 bars.

Question 26

How long is verse 3?

Answer 26

Only 7 and 1/2 bars long.

Question 27

What techniques are used in bar 66-68?

Answer 27

Word painting- additional emphasis.
Climax of notes.
Panning creates an antiphonal feel- backing vocals play call and response.
There is overdubbing at the start of chorus 3.

Question 28

What key is chorus 3?

Answer 28

The relative minor of c.

Question 29

In bar 73 what do the ba ba sound like?

Answer 29

They sound like a choir- they are gospel inspired.

Question 30

is the piece disjunct or conjunct?

Answer 30

Often conjunct with some wide leaps.

Question 31

Who wrote this song?

Answer 31

Queen the band
-written by Freddie mercury the key vocalist.

Question 32

When was Killer Queen released?

Answer 32

1974- on Queens third album sheer heart attack