Elfman, Batman Returns

Question 1

What device is used heavily throughout all songs?
What is that?
What are the variations of this?

Answer 1

Leitmotifs/motifs
Small set of notes representing a character or idea

Batman
Penguin
Catwoman

Question 2

Describe the Batman & Penguin motif

Answer 2

Exclusively brass
More theatrical, organ, conjunct

Question 3

What does Birth of a Penguin pt. I open with?

Answer 3

Batman motif

Question 4

What is rhythmic augmentation & diminution?
1

Answer 4

Bigger rhythm (double x2)
Smaller rhythm (half x1/2)

Question 5

Elements of rhythm, metre & tempo throughout in 1

Answer 5

Constant time sig changes
Ostinato
Cross rhythms
Syncopation
Triplets

Question 6

Texture of 1

Answer 6

Constantly changing
Lots layering
Contrapuntal
Bars 22-25 monophonic

Question 7

Playing techniques of:
Strings
Wind
Brass
Percussion
General

Answer 7

Arco
Pitz
Tremolo bowing

Oboe extreme vibrato
Flutter tounging

Horns stopped (hand up end to mute, lowers tone by semitone)
Trumpet extreme lip trill

Cymbal & timpani roll
Snare drum w/ drums off
Percussion rolls

Glissandi
Con sord

Question 8

What key does 1 start in?
What is its texture
Bar 2 cadence
Pipe organ chord

Answer 8

Fm
Low, thick
Plagal
Low, held in Fm

Question 9

When is the Penguin motif first used?
What is the key at this time?

Answer 9

3-6
Remains Fm

Question 10

When is bars 3-4 repeated?
What is different about the repeat?

Answer 10

5-6
Ff, richer texture

Question 11

What chord is used in bar 6?

Answer 11

Cluster

Question 12

At bar 7, what chord is heard?

Answer 12

Dominant (v)

Question 13

When does the key change to Am?
What happens to the texture at their time?
When does the key change to Gm?
What happens in this bar also?

Answer 13

7-13
Reduced to strings (typical orchestral film music)

11
Penguin motif in strings with celesta ornamentation

Question 14

What happens in bar 13 as the father screams?

Answer 14

3/8 for a bar
False relation (F# & Fnatural at same time)

Changes to Gm
Stings penguin theme with caleste ostinato

Question 15

How is a tertiary relationship created?
When does the key change to Cm?

Answer 15

Moving through keys by 3rds (Fm -> Am -> Cm)
14-26 section

Question 16

In bar 14, what is augmented?
How?

Answer 16

Penguin theme
Note length doubled

Question 17

What are the 2 musical parts in bar 18?

Answer 17

Intro of celesta & harp
Play broken chord figures in contrary motion

Penguin motif variation
Ornamented & changed
By low wind

Question 18

What represents the baby catching the cat?
When?

Answer 18

Floury
21

Question 19

What is the texture at bars 22-25?
What is the range of the instruments playing?

Answer 19

Unison texture
By synthesiser, tuba, timpani, low wind
Large range of 4 octaves

Question 20

Bars 22-25, what brings the music into the next section?

Answer 20

Harp gliss & cymbals

Question 21

What is the key at bars 26-41?
What if different about this?

Answer 21

Dm
First key shift not a 3rd

Question 22

What is playing the Penguin motif bars 26-38?
Bars 39-40
What is going on on screen at bars 39-40?

Answer 22

Choir sing Penguin motif “la”
Strings & low wind
Pram thrown off bridge

Question 23

41-end
What happens in screen?
What plays the Penguin theme?
What is the accompaniment?
What changes in the accomp?

Answer 23

Baby floats away to sewers
Wind
Harp & strings = pizz arpeggios
Shifts by semitone, 3/4 (typical Elfmann)

Question 24

What is the chord in bar 45?

Answer 24

Dominant 7th
Chord made of 5ths (harmonically ambiguous) instead of resolving

Question 25

How does the music resolve?
When?

Answer 25

D pedal
Bar 46

Question 26

What does “attacca” mean?

Answer 26

Go straight into pt. II