Under The Table (Michael Kamen) Flashcards
Area of Study 3
Describe the instrumentation. Make five points.
Sleigh bells are heard in opening bars. Regarded as strange, as it gives a Christmas aspect to the dark atmosphere
Pizzicato lower string note plays sharply on beat two during moment of homophony. Unsettles emotions of listener
Weird unpitched percussion, such as the striking of metal, is heard near the end. This foreshadows shocking events
Brass instruments are often associated with military. Atonal fanfares with trumpets blend heroism into dark ambience
Tubular bells are sounded near end of piece. This symbolises the mourning of someone being condemned to death
Describe the harmony/ tonality. Make three points.
Chords are left in stasis because of the lower brass drone in opening bars. This builds on the drama and suspense
Opens in a minor key, but contains chords that avoid a tonal centre. Dissonance builds the horror within the drama
Piece ends on a fading perfect fifth interval played by lower strings and horns. Unresolved chord leaves listener in suspense
Describe the texture. Make three points.
Mainly polyphonic in the main part of the piece. This drives the action and the excitement forward towards the end
Moment of homophony when upper strings play an inverted pedal note on top of sleigh bells. Builds tension and suspense
Part writing builds with the dynamics near the end in the lower brass. Reinforces the act of unsettling the listener’s emotions
Describe the rhythm/ tempo. Make four points.
Instruments at unusual beats of each quadruple bar, such as pizzicato lower strings on beats four and one. Tension building
Kept under control by sleigh bells’ repetitive rhythm. This reinforces the act of driving the excitement and the action forward
Lower brass and timpani play an oom-pah two quaver note motif after moment of homophony. Reinforces the anticipation
Syncopated ascending two note steps between lower brass and horns near the end. Adds to the disconcerting atmosphere
