Birth of a penguin Part 1 and 2, Batman vs the Circus, and The Rise and Fall from Grace - from Batman Returns (Danny Elfman)

Question 1

Who is Danny Elfman?

Answer 1

Self taught American composer, born on 29th May 1953.

Question 2

When was Batman Returns released?

Answer 2

1992.

Question 3

Elfman gives very detailed performance direction with regards to dynamics, articulation and phrasing. Name some used throughout the pieces.

Answer 3

• Arco
• Pizzicato
• Tremolo
• Glissandi (smooth slides) between notes
• Con Sord
• Oboe extreme vibrato
• Horns stopped
• Trumpet extreme lip trill
• Cymbal and timpani roll
• Flutter tonging
• Snare drum with snares off
• Percussion rolls.

Question 4

BoaP1: What is the main key of this piece?

Answer 4

F minor with a few modulations to Gm, Cm, and Dm.

Question 5

BoaP1: At the beginning of the piece, Batman’s motif is played. What instrument plays this?

Answer 5

Horns.

Question 6

BoaP1: Why is Batman’s motif played at the start of the piece?

Answer 6

To establish the film.

Question 7

BoaP1: After the established motif, what cadence is played before continuing on with the piece?

Answer 7

Plagal cadence.

Question 8

BoaP1: What instruments are used first to establish The Penguin’s motif?

Answer 8

Choir and violins.

Question 9

BoaP1: What type of chords are used in bar 4?

Answer 9

Dominant seventh chords

Question 10

BoaP1: Between bars 7 and 13, how many modulations are there?

Answer 10

2, to A minor, and then to G minor at bar 11.

Question 11

BoaP1: What is the texture at bars 22-25?

Answer 11

Monophonic texture, that is played by the synthesiser, tuba, timpani, and low woodwind ranging over four octaves.

Question 12

BoaP1: Sleighbells are used throughout the entire section covering the scene of the parents throwing the pram off the bridge. Why is this? And what key is this section in?

Answer 12

• It is set during the Christmas period.

- D minor

Question 13

BoaP1: At bar 45 the music feels as though it is moving to a conclusion. Why is this?

Answer 13

Because of the use of a dominant seventh chord.

Question 14

BoaP1: Describe the chord used to resolve the piece in bar 46.

Answer 14

It is made up entirely of fifths (C, G, D, A, E).

It is used before resolving with a D pedal by low strings with the harp playing the penguin motif.

Question 15

BoaP2: What key does the piece start in?

Answer 15

D minor

Question 16

BoaP2: A rising and falling arpeggio motif is played by what instrument in bar 1, and again by another in bar 2?
What chord are these based on?

Answer 16

Bar 1: Cellos
Bar 2: Violins

The cello figure is based around a tonic major seventh chord and in bar 2 a tonic sixth with added second.

Question 17

BoaP2: At bar 9 the Batman Motif is played by what instruments?

Answer 17

Horns

Question 18

BoaP2: At bar 11, what key has the piece modulated to?

Answer 18

B♭ minor

Question 19

BoaP2: What instrument plays the Batman Motif at bars 12-15?

Answer 19

Bassoon and Bass Clarinet.

Question 20

BoaP2: What sort of effect does adding a descending triplet phrase in bar 16 create?

Answer 20

A cross rhythmic effect against the accompaniment.

Question 21

BoaP2: At bar 52-56, describe the use of chords and bass.

Answer 21

Use of D♭7 first inversion, and bass chromatic shift to F♯ minor with ♯6.

Question 22

BoaP2: The bar 57-62 section ends in A♭ major, what key does the piece modulate to in bar 63?

Answer 22

A♭ minor

Question 23

BoaP2: There is a hint of an augmented Penguin motif by muted brass, at what bar?

Answer 23

Bars 85-87

Question 24

BoaP2: At bar 97, what technique is used by the flutes?

Answer 24

Flutter Tongue

Question 25

BoaP2: What chord is used to end the piece?

Answer 25

An open chord (no third) of C♯ and G♯ and the tam tam is struck to end the piece.

Question 26

BvTC: At bar 8, what happens to the tempo?

Answer 26

it increases.

Question 27

BvTC: The second section of this piece has a comical feel to it to represent the ‘Circus Gang’ causing chaos on the streets of Gotham. Describe how this is done?

Answer 27

The music represents this through the use of cross rhythms, frequent changes in time signatures, syncopation and fragments of ideas.

Question 28

BvTC: What is the key from bar 13?

Answer 28

E minor

Question 29

BvTC: What key does the piece modulate to at bar 18?

Answer 29

C minor

Question 30

BvTC: What instrument is used to set the new ostinato at bar 26? What accompanies this instrument?

Answer 30

A new ostinato in octaves appears in the piano (Idea 4) and the xylophone starts the next section accompanied by the snare drum and temple blocks.

Question 31

BvTC: At bar 47 there is an unprepared modulation to what key?

Answer 31

C# minor

Question 32

BvTC: At bar 64 the main batman motif enters over what chords and what instruments are used?

Answer 32

The main Batman motif enters over a chord of E♭ played by the strings section.

Question 33

BvTC: What key does the music modulate to at bar 67?

Answer 33

E minor

Question 34

BvTC: Describe the dynamics at bars 91-93.

Answer 34

There is a sudden shift of dynamics to p (from ff) with a quick crescendo back to forte by bar 3.

Question 35

BvTC: Describe the end of the piece.

Answer 35

The music starts to decrescendo until the penultimate bar, which is a low E, which crescendos from p to fff. The piece ends on the low E – no harmony played.

Question 36

TRaFfG: What key does the piece start in?

Answer 36

C minor

Question 37

TRaFfG: An arpeggio is played by the cellos and violins at the start of the piece. What is the playing technique used called?

Answer 37

Pizzicato

Question 38

TRaFfG: The penguin motif is first played by what instrument?

Answer 38

The Penguin motif is played underneath by the cello, coloured by the low bass clarinet.

Question 39

TRaFfG: At bars 20-25 the Penguin motif is played in what style?

Answer 39

As a waltz, in triple time.

Question 40

TRaFfG: At bar 46, what ornament is used by the flute? What cadence is played?

Answer 40

• Trill on the flute

- Perfect cadence.

Question 41

TRaFfG: What is the key at bar 47?

Answer 41

C minor

Question 42

TRaFfG: At what point does the piece modulate key to C major?

Answer 42

Bars 53/54 (The end)