ballad of sweeney todd Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the key signature of the piece referenced?
F# minor
This indicates the tonal center of the composition.
What type of accompaniment is there in verse 1?
Accompaniment with a repeating musical phrase (ostinato with dissonant 4th note). also tonic pedal
Ostinato is commonly used to create a sense of continuity.
Which instruments are mentioned to play the 4th note in the ostinato?
Clarinet, viola, or muted horn
These instruments contribute to the texture of the piece.
What motif is noted in the piece
Notes of the ‘dies irae’ theme
This theme is often associated with death and judgment.
What rhythmic pattern does the piece exhibit in verse 1 melody?
alternating crotchet quavers with dance-like movement
This creates a sense of momentum in the music.
What intervals are frequently used in the composition?
4th and 3rd leaps
These intervals contribute to the melodic structure.
Describe the character of Sweeney Todd based on the lyrics.
His skin was pale and his eye was odd
This description emphasizes the eerie nature of the character.
What harmony is used at “his skin was pale and his eye was odd?
Ambiguous chords due to extensions (commonly 9ths and 11ths)
These chords add complexity and tension to the music.
name cadance and key at “eye was odd”
perfect cadence in A (modal)
A modal perfect cadence resolves tension, often leading to a sense of conclusion.
What happens in melody at “he shaved the faces of gentlement who never thereafter where heard of again”
Falling sequence
This technique adds to the dramatic progression of the music.
What interval is described as constant in the ostinato”he trod a path taht few have trod”?
Tritone
The tritone creates a sense of tension and unease.
What common interval is noted with the phrase ‘he trod a path that few have trod’?
Lots of 3rds
This structure contributes to the melodic line’s expressiveness.
what note ends “the demon barber of fleet street”
unresolved 9th
The piece ends on a 9th with no resolution, leaving a sense of ambiguity.
What further intervals in ostinato at ‘did sweeney todd’
more tritones, min 6, dim 8 and dim 4
This enhances the dramatic tension in the composition.
What is the rhythmic structure of the phrase ‘swing your razor wide, sweeney’?
3 + 1 bar
This irregular structure adds to the musical complexity.
What texture is created in the chrous?
Chordal texture with SATB unison
This layering creates a rich vocal sound.
whats the function of cello and double bass
tonic drone/pedal
The tonic pedal supports the harmonic foundation of the piece.
chord at razor
F# min maj 7
This chord adds tension and complexity to the music.
What happens in tenor at ‘blood of those who’?
Chromatic inner line
This chromaticism enhances the dramatic imagery.
What type of harmony is noted between bass and tenor in ‘freely flow the blood’?
False relation
False relations create dissonance and tension in harmonic progressions.
interval at moralize between voices?
female voices in 8ve with tenor. bass Parallel 4ths
This creates a specific harmonic texture in the composition.
What happens to the bass and orchestra at the word ‘moralize’?
Bass now in unison, not 8ves. ostinato comes back
This change alters the harmonic texture of the phrase.
interval at “hold it” and “the sky”
tritone and dim 8ve
what happens at “sky”
long held note. tenor rise by semitone. false relation and chromatcism in orcehstra
