Uematsun- One Winged Angel Flashcards
What is the overall structure?
Through composed ( A, B, C, D, E, F, G.)
What is the harmony of the A section based on?
Based on a pedal note on E in the bass and an Edim+4 chord (E G A Bb - 1 m3 4 b5)
Why does the main chord in the section reflect the character of Sepiroth?
It uses an Edim+4 chord which contains a lot of harsh dissonance (A-Bb) and also the augmented 4th/ flattened 5th (from the E) is associated with evil.
What characterised the rhythmic movement of the accompaniment in the A section?
Constant-march like crotchets.
How do the strings convey a feeling of horror in the opening?
They use high pitched, forte, stabbing chords reminiscent of Hermann’s ‘Psycho’.
Which two time signatures are used in the A section?
4/4 and 7/8.
How many different tuplets are used in the A section?
Two, triplets and sextuplets.
How many different short melodic ideas are used in the A section? And approximately how long are they each?
Around 6 and they are, each, about 2 bars long.
Which generic intervals link the melodic ideas of the A section?
Augmented 4th and minor 2nd.
During the chordal C section, which interval is used the most in the vocal section?
Minor 2nd.
What happens immediately after the name Sepiroth is sung forte?
The texture reduces to just the string timbre and the dynamics reduce to piano.
When the chordal melody is stated for the second time in the C section, how is the music developed?
-Rhythmically mobile brass countermelodies are added.
-Brass triplets are added between the word Sepiroth.
Which two percussion instruments are most prominent throughout?
Timpani and snare drum.
How many bars in the piece is the steady crotchet motor rhythm not present in any way?
Only 20.
How does the composer use dynamics throughout the piece?
Sudden, extreme changes and very few gradual crescendos and diminuendos.
During the F section, the music changes dramatically for a short time, how does Uematsu do this?
-By stopping the driving crotchet rhythm.
-Using high pitched accompaniment in semiquavers.
-Melody being played below the accompaniment.
In the D section, the section sings ‘Sors immanis, et inanis’ meaning ‘Fate, monsterous and empty.’ How would you describe the melodic movement of the choir parts?
Chromatic.
How does the articulation of the choir in the D section contrast with that of the C section?
The ‘Sors immanis’ lyrics are more legato than the accented, staccato ‘Estuans interius… Sepiroth’ lyrics.
In the G section, when the vocal theme repeats, the mid range of pitch is filled by what?
A legato soprano melody and held brass chords.
How many different time signatures are used in this piece and which ones?
Three: 4/4, 7/8 and 6/8.
In the G section there are extremes of range, which instrument is high and which is low?
-Very high stabbing string chords.
-Low vocals , piano and brass.
-Nothing in the mid range, creating a polarised texture.
In the final section, when the ‘Estuans interius… Sepiroth’ lyrics are sung for the final time, which percussion instrument is added?
An ominous low pitched church bell sound.
In the B section, which percussion instrument accompanies the chords?
A timpani roll on each chord.
What articulation characterised much of the accompaniment throughout?
-Staccato generally.
-Legato only used in the highlight moments of contrast.
