Psycho

Question 1

Melody

Answer 1

• Absence of melody
• Motifs / motivic cells / fragmentary
• leitmotifs
• 2 and 4 bar phrases
• Repetition
• Repetition an octave lower or higher
• Generally conjunct melodies
• Semitone / chromatic movement
• Inversion / verticalisation of semitone idea
• Ostinato
• Sequences
• Augmentation of theme (The Toys)
• Repeated notes (The Murder)
• Contrasting legato melody (Prelude)

AO4: Explanation of the effect of the element. Discussion of composers who approach melodic writing with similar techniques.

Question 2

Harmony

Answer 2

• Non-functional harmony
• Dissonance / unresolved dissonance
• “Hitchcock chord” minor/major 7th
• Cluster chords
• Chromatic bass lines
• Parallel 7th chords
• Pedal
• Static / slow harmonic rhythm
• Tritones / interlocking augmented fourths

AO4: Explanation of the effect of the element. Discussion of other composers who use harmonic techniques in a similar manner.

Question 3

Texture

Answer 3

• Homophonic / homorhythmic
• Parallel chords
• Layered / staggered entries / builds from top downwards
• Ostinato
• Lyrical melody in violin and then in high cello / melody and accompaniment / melody dominated homophony
• Divisi strings
• Unison
• Octaves
• Extremes of register

AO4: Explanation of the effect of the element. Discussion of other music with such a wide variety of textures throughout.