Something's Coming - Bernstein

Question 0

Written for what musical?

Answer 0

West side story

Question 1

Written in what year?

Answer 1

1957

Question 2

An example of a…?

Answer 2

Character song

Question 3

What voice?

Answer 3

Tony - tenor

Question 4

Influenced by what styles of music?

Answer 4

Jazz

20th century classical music.

Question 5

What is the accompaniment made up of?

Answer 5

Woodwind, brass, percussion and strings

Question 6

What does the accompaniment do to make sure they don’t overpower the singer?

Answer 6

Uses:
Quiet dynamics
Soft timbres, such as mutes trumpets and pizzicato strings.
A homophonic texture

Question 7

The Metre

Answer 7

Changes between 3/4 and 2/4

Question 8

How is the feeling of excitement and anticipation sustained?

Answer 8

Changes of metre, the fast tempo and syncopation

Question 9

The key

Answer 9

Overall in D major, with two contrasting sections in C major

Question 10

The Harmony

Answer 10

Tonal and jazz-influenced, using frequent 7th chords and other added note chords

Question 11

The texture

Answer 11

Homophonic. There are three main ideas on the accompaniment:

1. The repeated riff that opens the song
2. The short, mainly syncopated chords heard in 21-26
3. A fast, um-cha accompaniment first heard at bar 32.