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Batman Flashcards

(67 cards)

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1
Q

Who did Elfman have a long association with?

A

Tim Burton

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2
Q

What famous programmes/movies has he written for

A

Edward Scissorhands
The Nightmare before christmas
Sleepy Hollow
The Simpsons

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3
Q

Did Elfman orchestrate his own scores?

A

No

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4
Q

Describe the prescribed themes

A

part 1) tossing of infant penguin into river
part 2) main titles
BvsC) Batman defeats penguins circus performers
R&F) preparations to introduce penguin into society

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5
Q

Is it a full symphony orchestra?

A 
Yes, plus:
Organ
Choir
Synthesizer
large percussion section
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6
Q

What does the large percussion section feature?

A

xylophone
marimba
vibraphone

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7
Q

What ‘special additions’ are there?

A

whistle
accordion
fairground and steam organs

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8
Q

Describe the horns in the batman motif

A

low register

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9
Q

What interesting timbres are there in part 1?

A

Tutti orchestra, vocalising choir and organ
Organ solo in contrast with strings
Celesta chords with tremolo strings
Tutti orchestra and choir with sleigh bells

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10
Q

What’s interesting about the timbres in part 2?

A

Choir, widely spaced strings, harp and celesta broken chords

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11
Q

What interesting timbres are there in BvsC?

A

Xylophone, temple blocks and low percussive piano line with snare drum
Xylophone, piano bass, timpani, marimba and muted trumpet

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12
Q

What interesting timbres are there in R&F?

A

High string cluster chords
Accordion, flute and harp
Contrabassoon clarinet with celesta trumpet and string tremolo

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13
Q

How many performance techniques can be observed?

A

A wide range

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14
Q

Describe the strings

A

Tremolo
Pizz and arco
Glissandi

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15
Q

Whats interesting about the percussion?

A

Harp glissandi

tam-tam and cymbal roll

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16
Q

Describe the w.w

A

Flutter-tongue flute

Oboe extreme vibrato

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17
Q

What’s interesting about the brass?

A

Muted
Stopped horn notes
Horn glissandi
Trumpet extreme lip trill

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18
Q

Does the choir vocalise in part 1?

A

Yes

changing from ah to oo

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19
Q

What do textures draw on?

A

Homophonic layers

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20
Q

Outline some interesting textures in part 1

A

Drone
chordal
chords are decorated with falling broken-chord figures
passage of octaves

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21
Q

What interesting textures are in part 2?

A

Layers of ostinati over pedal and drawn out high notes

Mel-dom-hom with pounding triplets supporting statements of the Batman theme

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22
Q

What’s prominent in BvsC?

A

Percussive elements

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23
Q

Describe the interesting textures in R&F

A

Single note pizz cello line
High string clusters with widely spaced octaves and dom pedal
accordion with ‘waltz’ accompanying figure and long sustained notes for flute and harp in octaves

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24
Q

Do dynamics span the whole range?

A

Yes

Particular use is made of the quick-acting crescendo

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25
How are speeds shown?
Metronome marks rather than terminology
26
How are metres changed?
On occasion
27
Describe the metre in part 1
Settles into a steady quadruple time after the slow triple time intro One bar of 3/8
28
Describe the metre in part 2
4/4 | one bar of 5/4
29
Whats the contrast between BvsC and R&F
``` BvsC = mostly quadruple time, frequent bar changes reflect zany action R&F = mainly quadruple time with distinctly triple time waltz section ```
30
Is the rhythm handled in traditional terms?
yes | part 1 is characterised by ponderous steady crotchets and a brief dance-like theme
31
How are rhythms more distinctive in part 2?
ostinati composed of running semiquavers | triplets important
32
How is a strong feeling of propulsion created in he batman theme? in part 2
triplets and heavily accented accompaniment
33
is there augmentation?
Yes, of the batman theme in part 2
34
How is high energy created in BvsC?
Near constant quaver movement and bursts of semiquaver-semi-quaver-quaver figure on temple blocks
35
What does the melody draw on?
Leitmotifs
36
How is the batman motif distinctive?
Conjunct rising line, outlining the first three notes of the minor scale and the succeeding upward leap of a fourth and semitone fall to dominant note
37
What does BvsC open with?
Reference to batman motif in bass instruments in Bm
38
How many penguin motifs are there?
Two
39
Describe the first penguin motif
four crotchet notes circling around the dominant
40
Describe the second penguin motif
closely linked to first with prominent stepwise descent
41
Describe the overall melody in BvsC
fragmentary and sometimes chromatic
42
What harmony does Elfman draw on?
Functional
43
Are there inversion chords?
Yes
44
What key harmonic effects are there in part 1?
``` Accented passing note Dominant 7th Diminished triad Supertonic 7th Diminished 7th ```
45
What key harmonic effects are there in part 2?
``` Tonic pedal Side-shifting chords Half-diminished chords Augmented triad False relations ```
46
What key harmonic effects are there in BvsC?
Added 6th chords | Cluster chords
47
What key harmonic effects are there in R&F?
'Neapolitan' Harmony Appoggiatura Whole-tone chords
48
Outline all the structures
through-composed
49
What do chords change between in B,O,P pt.2?
Bbm and Gb7
50
What chords are the falling third in vocals of B.O.P pt 2?
C-Ab
51
What chord sequence ends B,O,P pt.2?
C sharp, Em, C sharp, Em | Thirds
52
What's the harmony a mixture of in BvC?
Em and C sharp
53
Star Wars context
Rebel blockade Jon Williams 1977
54
Star Wars Harmony
``` functional Tonic pedal in upper strings leaps of 4ths and 7ths Contrary motion add notes e.g Gb add6 quartal harmony regular triads ```
55
Star wars key/structure
Bb | ABA
56
Star Wars melody
leitmotifs heroic fainfair opening B more lyrical Spacy theme high and harp
57
Star Wars texture/sonority
``` full symphony orchestra unusual instruments e.g celeste and gong mostly forte strings always tremolo interesting texture e.g high piccolo ```
58
Star Wars tempo/metre/rhythm
``` regular rhythm in melody lots of accents triplets and sextuplets syncopated marching triplet figure closes ```
59
Alice in Wonderland
``` Tim Burton Aices theme wood of bow vocalising dim. 7ths heavy on strings fragmented flute decoration ```
60
The dying swan
``` Tchaichovsky Swan Lake melancholy - minor, arco, ostinato rippling ostinato in piano mel-dom-hom conjunct diatonic slow moving end closes monophony spread chord ```
61
Batman context
1992 American film based on comic-book superhero batman Second instalment of warner bros batman franchise Business tycoon Max Shreck teams up with Catwoman and Penguin in his plan to takeover Gotham Directed by Tim Burton and music by Danny Elfman
62
Danny Elfman context
Born in L.A 1953 no formal music training - vivid film goer Best known for association with Tim Burton - worked on many films together Music characterised by dark orchestral scores, often in minor keys Melodies in middle of texture and often played by brass, w.w or strings in low registers Elfman composed but studio arrangers did the orchestration
63
Significance of similar themes
all suffered great trauma Batman - parents murder Catwoman - treated with contempt by her boss Penguin - abandoned Themes similar in melodic content but differ in orchestration and rhythm
64
part one key
Fm | Am, Gm, Cm, Dm
65
part 2 key
Dm | C, Fsharpm, Csharp
66
BvC key
Bm | Csharp, Em, Cm
67
R&F key
Cm ending on C major

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