Psycho

Question 1

Harmony

Answer 1

1. Non functional harmony - avoids cadential harmony, with dissonances e.g. min 9th closes Finale VERTIGO
2. Prelude opens and ends with maj min 7ths “Hitchcock chords” BARBER PIANO SONATA MVT4
3. False relations e,g. G + G# b21 Prelude. BATMAN BOAP II b93-96
4. The city 1st beat is Dim 7th, then other chords are half dim 7ths BOAP I b37 BLACK RAIN USES THESE CHORDS
5. Augmented triad The Cellar b68 to end. RISE + FALL b51
6. Added 6th chords. Amin with F# in b3 The city. B VS C b5

Question 2

Texture

Answer 2

1. Chordal opening Prelude. BOAP 1 B14
2. Melody Dom Hom Psycho Theme in Vlns then Cello. BOAP II b 27 ONWARDS, BATMAN MOTIF. SCHINDLERS LIST. WILDE.
3. Imitative entries The Cellar, fugal texture. BOAP2 B74
4. Octaves b1-4 the cellar BOAP 1 B22-25
5. Homorhythmic chords Discovery b1-18 ET HOMORHYTHMIC ACCENTS , KING KONG

Question 3

Instrumentation

Answer 3

1. Con sordini played ff creates restrained sound. ON WENLOCK EDGE
2. Sul ponticello the cellar- unclear sound adds to suspense. ON WENLOCK EDGE - GALE + BLACK RAIN.
3. Very high cello in psycho theme. Also in the murder all instruments high. RITE OF SPRING HIGH BASSOON SOLO.
4. Swells in dynamics Marion. BERLIOZ.
5. high Glissandi and sffz in the murder. BATMAN VS CIRCUS VLNS GLISSANDI HIGH NOTES. KING KONG HIGH VLNS

Question 4

Rhythm

Answer 4

1. The cellar tremolo build up. VERTIGO THEME. KING KONG INTRO. BLACK RAIN
2. hard driven quavers in prelude and the cellar. JAWS. NORTH BY NORTHWEST TRIPLETS THROIGHOUT
3. Nervous triplet semiquaver figure - prelude. BARTOK QUARTET 4
4. Crotchet “throbbing” pulse sounds like Marion’s sisters heartbeat the toys MAHLER 9 intro heartbeat
5. Syncopation Marion, Discovery b1-2. DUCHESS OPENING. NORTH BY NORTHWEST. BATMAN VS CIRCUS START.

Question 5

Melody

Answer 5

1. Prelude motif A stab chords, B VS C B73 TIMPANI
   motif b chromatic semitones movement like JAWS. NORTH BY NORTHWEST. Motif c uses 2 major 3rds.
2. Stepwise and legato psycho theme contrasts with staccato accompaniment. VERTIGO STACCATO OPENING THEME CONTRASTS WITH LEGATO VLNS. KING KONG MANIC OPENING CONTRASTS WITH LEGATO CALM STRINGS
3. Motif B is inverted after the psycho theme, and is also in The City.
4. Mickey mousing used when camera is panning over the landscape in the city - falling and rising melody, 8 note ‘fate theme’. MICKEY ALSO IN BATMAN sfz forte when pram is thrown off bridge. SHAPE OF WATER ACTIONS AND SOUNDS IN TIME.
5. Shrieking notes extremely high in the murder sounds like screaming and craziness VERTIGO CONTINUOUS REPETITIVE ASCENDING AND DESCENDING RHYTHM SOUNDS LIKE LOOKING UP AND DOWN

Question 6

Tonality

Answer 6

1. No cadential harmony so pedals, ostinati and signature recurring chords used - like Hitchcock chord VERTIGO OSTINATI
2. in some cues surviving traces of key- a minor close of the city, Phrygian mode of the toys
3. The murder is atonal, 21 bar coda the death of Marion is based on two chords.
4. Discovery and finale is atonal, unresolved dim 5th dissonance at end. BLACK RAIN ATONAL

Question 7

Sonority

Answer 7

1. All strings, 14 firsts 12 seconds 10 violas 8 cellos 6 basses. BARTOK USES STRINGS A LOT.
2. Muted all except shower scene. To intensify harsh sound in shower scene, mics placed close to instruments
3. Repeated down bows in shower scene and that and double stops in prelude
4. Arco and pizz Prelude and shower scene