S Schwartz: Defying Gravity (from the album of the cast recording of Wicked)

Question 1

What is the instrumentation in ‘Defying Gravity’?

Answer 1

Two voices in a duet with mezzo - soprano ranges

• A large orchestra with brass, strings, extended woodwind, harps, keyboards, percussion (inc. tubular bells drum kit and timpani)
• Electric guitars with overdrive and distortion

Question 2

What technique does the string section use to add tension at multiple points throughout ‘Defying Gravity’?

Answer 2

Tremolo (Notably in the first verse)

Question 3

Is the word setting mainly syllabic or mellismatic in ‘Defying Gravity’?

Answer 3

Syllabic

Question 4

What is the name of the technique used when the voice sings ‘aah’ at the end of ‘Defying Gravity’?

Answer 4

Vocalisation

Question 5

What is the interval of most of the leaps in ‘Defying Gravity’?

Answer 5

perfect 5ths with occassional compound 4th and 5ths