West Side Story Flashcards

Question 1

Q

West Side Story is a modern retelling of which story?

Answer

A

Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

“star-crossed lovers”

Question 2

Q

Where is West Side Story set in?

Answer

A

New York City in 1950s

Question 3

Q

Who are the two rival street gangs in West Side Story?

Answer

A

Jets (American),

Sharks (Puerto Rican)

Question 4

Q

Who are the star-crossed lovers in West Side Story?

Answer

A

Maria (Puerto Rican)

Tony (American)

Question 5

Q

How did West Side Story differ from the broadway world?

Answer

A

it’s tragic conclusion was different from the cheerful and frothy musicals

Question 6

Q

What is the genre of West Side Story?

Answer

A

musical theatre

Question 7

Q

What is the date of West Side Story?

Question 8

Q

Who are the librettists for West Side Story?

Answer

A

Arthur Laurents (playwright),

Stephen Sondheim (lyricists)

Question 9

Q

Who was the choreographer for West Side Story?

Answer

A

Jerome Robbins

Question 10

Q

Who directed the 1961 film of West Side Story?

Answer

A

Robert Wise,

Jerome Robbins

Question 11

Q

Who is Maria in West Side Story?

Answer

A

soprano

Puerto Rican girl, sister of Bernardo

Question 12

Q

Who is Tony in West Side Story?

Answer

A

tenor

member of Jets

Question 13

Q

Who is Bernardo in West Side Story?

Answer

A

baritone

leader of Sharks

Question 14

Q

Who is Riff in West Side Story?

Answer

A

baritone

leader of Jets

Question 15

Q

Who is Anita in West Side Story?

Answer

A

mezzo soprano

girlfriend of Bernardo

Question 16

Q

What happened when the two gangs fight in West Side Story?

Answer

A

Bernardo stabs Riff

then Tony stabs and kills Bernardo (Maria’s brother)

Question 17

Q

What is the tragic end of West Side Story?

Answer

A

Tony is stabbed by a a Sharks member

Maria arrives but Tony is already dead

Question 18

Q

Who sings in "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

Tony (tenor)

Question 19

Q

Where was "Maria" in West Side Story set in?

Answer

A

outside the gymnasium, where Tony has just fallen in love with aria

Question 20

Q

What are the sentiments in "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

he reflects rapturously on her name

Question 21

Q

What is the key in "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

B major - E flat major

Question 22

Q

What is the time signature in "Maria" in West Side Story?

Question 23

Q

How is the opening melody sung in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

chant-like intonation

suggest Tony’s worshipful adoration

Question 24

Q

How are the repeated D’s supported in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

by modal harmony and free rhythm

Question 25

Q

How is the verse sung for “Ma-ri-a” in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

begins on a tritone interval
angular motive:
Eb(D#) - A natural - Bb

Question 26

Q

What does the angular motive convey in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

strife (disagreement),
yearning,
star-crossed love

Question 27

Q

What does the melody do before returning to the opening theme in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

it traces a broad arc

Question 28

Q

What does the return of the opening them do in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

it serves as a postlude (conclude)

Question 29

Q

How are the strings related to the voice in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

the lush strings doubles the voice throughout

Question 30

Q

How is the musical climax heightened in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

timpani is used

Question 31

Q

Who sings in "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

Anita (mezzo soprano),
Rosalia (soprano),
other Puerto Rican girls

Question 32

Q

Where is "America" in West Side Story set in?

Answer

A

an alley behind Bernardo and Maria’s house

Question 33

Q

What are the sentiments in "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

Rosalia is homesick for Puerto Rico

Anita defiantly declares love for new home, Manhattan

Sondheim’s lyrics praise both virtues and false promises of the American Dream

Question 34

Q

What is the formal structure of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

Verse-Chorus structure,

preceded by introduction

Question 35

Q

What is the tonality like in the Introduction: “Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . .” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

ambiguous tonality with modal inflections

Question 36

Q

How is the Latin ambiance established in the Introduction: “Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . .” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

claves (wood blocks),
guiro (ribbed gourd),
cross-rhythms,
rhythmic ostinato

Question 37

Q

What do the Spanish guitar and celesta provide in the Introduction: “Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . .” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

undulating lines in parallel thirds in rising and falling triplets

Question 38

Q

What does Rosalie’s long phrases and free rhythm convey in the Introduction: “Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . .” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

yearning and nostalgia

Question 39

Q

What is Anita’s response to Rosalie in the Introduction: “Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . .” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

Anita expresses her loathing of Puerto Rico and her love for Manhattan

Question 40

Q

How is word painting on “breezes” achieved in the Introduction: “Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . .” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

arched motive based on whole-tone scale

Glissandi on string harmonics

Question 41

Q

How does the rest of the song generally go after the Introduction: “Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . .” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

rest of the song unfolds in series of choruses and verses played at a faster tempo

Question 42

Q

What is the key in the Chorus: “I like to be in America” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

C major, with sudden (jazzy) modulations

Question 43

Q

How is the word “America” repeated in the Chorus: “I like to be in America” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

versus use syncopated phrases

Question 44

Q

How is the argumentative exchange conveyed in the Chorus: “I like to be in America” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

verses call and response pattern between Rosalie and Anita

Question 45

Q

How is the Hemiola effect established in the Chorus: “I like to be in America” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

choruses and verses alternate a 6/8 and 3/4 pattern

Question 46

Q

How is rhythmic energy provided in the Chorus: “I like to be in America” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

snappy syncopations

Question 47

Q

How is the Latin flavour achieved in the Chorus: “I like to be in America” of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer

A

guitar,
claves,
maracas,
additional percussion instruments,
texture: trumpets &amp; drums give in intensity to overall sound

Question 48

Q

How does the colorful orchestration help paint the vivd portraits in West Side Story?

Answer

A

in the opening, Rosalie is doubled sweetly by a flute,

Anita is accompanied by a mournful oboe