Danny Elfman Flashcards
(11 cards)
Introduction paragraph
-born in 1953
-self taught american composer, best known for his work in film music
-previously a member of the rock band ‘Oingo Boingo’, which shaped his unique music style
-worked closely with Tim Burton in films like Beetlejuice (1988), the nightmare before Christmas (1993) and planet of the apes (2001)
-composition approach centres around the use of leitmotifs, which he develops through variation to support characters and narrative development
-unmethodical way of working, chronologically as the film unfolds
-established himself as a highly respected figure in contemporary music
Emotions created in BOAP 1
- Foreboding
- Mysterious
- Unease
- Brooding
Emotions created in BOAP 2
- heroic
- strength
- bold
- majestic
Emotions created in BvsC
-chaotic
-thrilling
-wild
-tension
-excitement
Emotions created in RAFFG
-suspicious
-menacing
-eerie
-uncomfortable
Describe the melody of all 4 ques
BOAP 1: Batman melody in lower brass, penguin B in high strings/choir
BOAP 2: developed Batman motif, rising and falling melody, ends with an open 5th chord
BvsC: fragmented angular melody, unpredictable leaps, batman motif in brass
RAFFG: counter melody played in oboe, fanfare at the end
Describe the texture of all 4 ques
BOAP 1: mel-dom-hom, pedal in octaves, moments of homophony
BOAP 2: pedal in octaves, sustained and tied notes, antiphony between different orchestral sections
BvsC: pedal in octaves, broken chords, Batman motif doubled in octaves
RAFFG: polyphony, antiphony, monophony, broken chords, motif played in octaves
Describe the harmony of all 4 ques
BOAP 1: dense, dissonant, tone cluster, descending parallel chords, harmony shifting by a semitone (typical of Elfman)
BOAP 2: tonic pedal, rich and dense, chord extensions, shifts by a semitone
BvsC: tonic pedal in B, chromatic shifts, unprepared modulation, parallel chords
RAFFG: dominant pedal, cluster chord
Describe the rhythm, metre and tempo of all 4 ques
BOAP 1: syncopation, dotted rhythms, few changes of metre
BOAP 2: triplet ostinato, rhythmic augmentation of batman theme, much faster tempo (130bpm)
BvsC: syncopation, sextuplets, rhythmic augmentation of batman theme, changes of metre
RAFFG: moment of 3/4, penguin a theme stretched out, motifs on strong beats
Describe the tonality of all 4 ques
BOAP 1: Fm, frequent key changes to minor keys, moment of D
BOAP 2: Dm, frequent key changes, moment of C major
BvsC: Bm, unprepared modulation to Cm
RAFFG: Cm, ends with a tierce de picardie to C
Wider Listening
POTA: The Hunt: Jerry Goldsmith - unconventional instruments, syncopation
Star wars: Main Title: John Williams - heavy brass, triplets
HTTYD: Flying theme: John Powell - repeated ostinato, high register strings, ascending melody
Batman Returns: The Children’s Hour: Danny Elfman - Thin texture, lack of bass, unconventional instruments
