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History 1 > West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein) > Flashcards

West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein) Flashcards

1
Q

date

A

1957

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2
Q

genre

A

musical theatre

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3
Q

source of plot

A

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

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4
Q

Librettist

A

Arthur Laurents (playwright) and Stephen Sondheim (lyricist)

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5
Q

Choreographer

A

Jerome Robbins

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6
Q

Film

A

directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins (1961)

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7
Q

plot summary

A

Maria and Tony (from rival gangs) fall in love at a dance. Tony (a Jet) kills Bernardo (Maria’s brother, a Shark). In the final scene, Tony is stabbed.

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8
Q

Maria: character singing

A

Tony (tenor)

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9
Q

Maria: setting

A

outside the gym, after the dance

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10
Q

Maria: key

A

B major, E flat major

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11
Q

Maria: time signature

A

C

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12
Q

Maria: introduction

A

melody opens with chant-like intonation suggesting Tony’s worshipful adoration. Repeated D-sharps supported by modal harmony and free rhythm

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13
Q

Maria: verse

A

tritone on “Maria” - this angular motif runs throughout, conveying strife, yearning, and star-crossed love. melody traces a broad arc before returning to opening theme

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14
Q

Maria: orchestration

A

lush strings doubling voice part, timpani used to heighten musical climaxes

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15
Q

America: character singing

A

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

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16
Q

America: setting

A

an alley behind Bernardo and Maria’s house

17
Q

America: summary

A

Rosalia expresses homesickness for Puerto Rico, Anita declares her love for Manhattan. Lyrics extol both virtues and false promises of The American Dream

18
Q

America: form/structure

A

Intro + Verse-Chorus structure

19
Q

America: key signature

A

Intro: 2 flats, ambiguous tonality (modal inflections in melodic lines). Chorus etc: C major

20
Q

America: instrumentation

A

claves (wood blocks) and guiro establish Latin ambience with cross-rhythms and rhythmic ostinato. Spanish guitar and celesta provide undulating lines in parallel thirds in rising and falling triplets.

21
Q

America: Intro

A

Rosalia (long phrases and free rhythm convey yearning and nostalgia)(doubled by flute), and Anita (acerbic response)(doubled by oboe)

22
Q

America: word painting

A

breezes (glissandi on string harmonics and arched motive based on whole tone scale)

23
Q

America: Chorus

A

sudden jazzy modulations. short syncopated phrases (A-me-ri-ca), call and response pattern.

24
Q

America: hemiola

A

choruses and verses alternate 6/8 and 3/4 pattern, establishing hemiola effect

25
Q

America: verse-chorus instrumentation

A

latin = guitar, claves, maracas

26
Q

review and reflection

A

jazz influence, use of modal scales (maria?)

History 1 (19 decks)

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