steven schwarz Flashcards
context of defying gravity
2003 play wicked
a song between glinda the good witch and Elphaba about Elephaba breaking the norm and literally and metaphorically defying gravity
dynamics of defying gravity
goes from pp-ff
sfz sforzando (forced)
fp (intermittently) loud and quiet
rhythm
starts of in 3/2 going then to 2/2 then turning to 4/4 where it stays until bar 101 where it goes to 3/4 then turning back to 4/4 until the end
lots of syncopation and rubato (robbed time)
tempo of the piece
32 onwards is andante (walking pace)
46 onwards is allegro (fast)
structure of the piece
introduction
verse 1
chorus
verse 2
chorus
bridge
chorus
introduction reprise
verse 3
chorus
coda
so basically extended verse chorus form
melody of defying gravity
uses several leitmotifs to represent different people places etc…
mostly pentatonic but in bars 71-79 it is hexatonic to show start of colla voce
what is a recitative
spoken parts of the song to progress the story
intrumentation
typical classical orchestra with the addition of popular music instruments such as the electric guitar, drum kit, and synthesiser.
There are also unusual additions to the percussion section which include chimes, finger cymbals, crotales (a tuned percussion instrument which looks like a rack of small cymbals) and a nut rattle.
texture
starts with MDH then shifts to polyphony
used to convey emotional turmoil
tonality
Glinda starts in the key of D
Elphaba starts in the key Db
Harmony
tonally ambiguous for the first 6 bars as harmony shifts alot
uses a normal mix of major and minor chords
Chords
heavily marcatoed (accented)
Augmented chords in bar 7
diminished chords in Baar 19
In bar 69 moves around using the circle of fifths either moving to the IV or V chord
