My friends

Question 1

What key is the piece in?

Answer 1

A flat maj/ F min, ambiguous tonality

Question 2

What key sig is the piece in?

Answer 2

• 3/4
• waltz of death
• opposed to 6/8 ballad which feels like a jig

Question 3

Describe section A of “my friends”. Which song is quoted here, and why? Describe it’s usage

Answer 3

the first 4 notes of the melody are an inverted fragment of the Dies irae (Day of Judgement), a chant taken from the Catholic mass for the dead.
Quotations of the Dies irae occur throughout the score.
This quotation is appropriate because in this song Todd expresses his sense of entitlement to judge and punish those who have wronged him.

Question 4

Describe section A1 of “my friends”. How does the music change when the duet part is added? Describe the musical differences in the characters’ singing and how this reflects their personalities.

Answer 4

Part A1 moves up by a semitone to build excitement.
Sweeny’s melody is the same, and Mrs. Lovett’s vocal part is added overtop. The unchanged music of Sweeney’s part depicts that he does not really notice her.
Mrs. Lovett’s countermelody is more rhythmically active, suggesting her nervousness and skittish nature.

Question 5

in “my friends” section A1, which lines are sung together by the characters?

Answer 5

“warm in m hand”, and “splendours you never dreamed of” are sung in unison. This creates irony because they are both talking about different things and unaware of the other’s meaning.

Question 6

How does section A of “my friends” build, and which words are emphasized?

Answer 6

the melody begins in the low register and builds upward. It emphasizes the words “home” and “friends”.

Question 7

How does Sondheim uses ambiguous harmonic repertoire?

Answer 7

Intro- Eb sus 2 in bass juxtaposed with an Ab sus 4rocking quaver melody
- 3rd are avoided generally

Question 8

Describe bar 11

Answer 8

“my friend, my faithful friend”

• ascending leap of a third then fourth on “friend”
• shows how he glorifies his razors

Question 9

Describe bar 15

Answer 9

• “speak to me friend, whisper I’ll listen”

- dynamic here is piano as sweeney speaks sweetly to his razors

Question 10

Describe bar 53

Answer 10

lovett and todd sing in cannon creates beautiful sounding thirds, intertwined with dies irae making it the dance of death