Sweeney Todd - verse 1 Flashcards
Background
Set during the time of the industrial revolution. Sweeney Todd is a barber who murders his customers, driven by a lust for revenge of those who wronged him. He is presented as a murderous demonic character who likes killing people. This is an informational song at the beginning of the musical where the audience gets some information on the character, without giving away too much of the story.
Key
F sharp minor, but there is no raised 7th at the beginning so it starts in aeolian mode to create a very mysterious and dark atmosphere.
Form
Modified strophic form and uses periodic phrasing.
Introduction
The introduction uses a tonic pedal in the cello, and the driving ostinato is introduced in the clarinet and viola which uses the notes G# and A. The G# is the 9th of the chord and clashes with the F# pedal to create dissonance. The muted horn has scenester dotted crotchets.
‘Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd’
Starts on an E7 chord which is dissonant but shows his love for killing people. Before the vocal line begins, there is a tritone in in the accompaniment. There is a minor 6th interval in the ostinato which emphasises his like for killing people. The tonic pedal in the cello adds to the dissonant harmony. This sets the mood before the vocal line comes in. Ostinato continues. There is a quiet dynamic. The melody is based on the dies irae. The melody mainly uses falling contour and falling thirds – for example there is a falling minor 3rd on ‘tale of’. ‘sweeney’ lands on the 9th and clashes with the 7th on ‘ney’. ‘todd’ lands on a dissonant chord that implies an imperfect cadence.
‘His skin was pale and his eye was odd’
Presents Sweeney as being strange looking and his personality of being a murderer matching his looks. Begins the same as the previous line, and similar melody. there is a major 3rd fall on ‘eye was odd’ and a minor 3rd rise in the accompaniment at the same time to represent sweeney looking ‘odd’.
‘He shaved the faces of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard of again’
The 5 phrase starts with a minor 6th leap on “He shaved,” indicating Sweeney’s enjoyment of killing. The melody features a falling contour and a sequence of minor 3rds on “gentle,” “men who,” and “after were.” The word “gentle” includes the 9th and 11th, adding to the dissonance. The ostinato contributes further dissonance with its 9th and semi-tone movement, enhancing the sense of mystery. When it reaches “who never thereafter were heard of again,” the chord shifts to G#dim, with the 5th in the bass. A tritone occurs on “never,” emphasizing Sweeney’s demonic nature and hinting at his murderous actions. The submediant pedal in the bass also creates dissonance, reflecting his character. This dramatic part of the verse is sung in constant quavers, matching the animated rhythm with the escalating action in the lyrics. On “again,” the chord returns to E7, reinforcing Sweeney’s continuous desire to kill. The phrase ends on a low pitch in the voice, adding to the mysterious and ominous atmosphere, with “again” held on and landing on chord II, which further enhances the dissonance.
‘he trod a path who few have trod’
Implies how sweeney has gone down a dark path of killing people and being a murderer. There is an added tritone in the ostinato. G9#11 chord. There is a dissonances 11th on ‘trod’ and ‘path’. The melody is falling with minor 3rds and semi tones.
‘Did Sweeney Todd’
‘The deamon barber of Fleet Street’
‘Demon’ lands on the 11th of the chord to represent Sweeney. There is a minor 3rd fall on ‘barber of’ and ‘Fleet Street’ is low pitched and lands on the 9th of the chord. There are also 2 pedals in the bass which create a drone effect. dissonant I79 chord.
