Stephen Schwartz: Defying Gravity from Wicked

Question 1

Melody

Answer 1

• leitmotifs in both the melody and the accompaniment and are heard continuously in Wicked
• leaps in the melody make the music sound angular, especially leaps of a fourth or a fifth that litter the score

Question 2

Tonality

Answer 2

• the ambiguous tonal centre at the start
• the verses and choruses are in the key of D major
• modulations in the bridge to G major and introduction reprise to F major
• bitonality sections from bar 88

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

The song is written with extended sections that include links and spoken passages. This is due to the nature of it being a dramatic song. The structure is:

introduction
verse 1
chorus
verse 2
chorus
bridge
chorus
introduction reprise
verse 3
chorus
coda

Question 4

Texture

Answer 4

• the mainly melody lead homophony

- monophonic spoken-word sections heard in the introduction

Question 5

Metre and rhythm

Answer 5

• it is generally in 4/4 except in the three spoken bars, which have three crotchet beats in the bar
• both syncopated melody and accompaniment
• layering of strong and consistent driving rhythmic patterns that create cross-rhythms

Question 6

Timbre and dynamics

Answer 6

• a powerful chest range in Elphaba’s part to create an impact at bar 157
• some special instrumental techniques, such as guitar overdrive and tremolo
• accents and staccato articulations reflecting courage and defiance
• a slow-progressing dynamic crescendo which represents the confidence that Elphaba gains while singing Defying Gravity

Lyrics
Verse 1- Something has changed within me-mp
Verse 2- I’m through accepting limits-f
Verse 3- Tell them how I am defying gravity-ff

Question 7

Tempo

Answer 7

andante - verse 1
allegro - chorus 1 onwards
moderato - introduction reprise
maestoso - coda