Defying Gravity

Question 1

What type of song is Defying Gravity?

Answer 1

Duet

Question 2

What ensemble performs Defying Gravity?

Answer 2

Pit orchestra

Question 3

Which unusual instruments have been added to the orchestra in Defying Gravity?

Answer 3

Electric guitar, synth, keyboard, drumkit

Question 4

In Defying Gravity, which techniques do the strings use to add tension?

Answer 4

Tremolo

Question 5

Which effect does the electric guitar use in Defying Gravity?

Answer 5

Overdrive

Question 6

Name another percussion instrument used in Defying Gravity.

Answer 6

Tubular bells, glockenspiel, drum kit, timpani, cymbal

Question 7

How could the word setting in Defying Gravity be described?

Answer 7

Syllabic

Question 8

Name the type of singing heard at the end of Defying Gravity.

Answer 8

Vocalisation, wordless singing using a vowel syllable such as ‘ah’

Question 9

How could the majority of the melodic movement in Defying Gravity be described?

Answer 9

Conjunct

Question 10

What is the overall structure of Defying Gravity?

Answer 10

Verse-chorus

Question 11

What is the tempo at the chorus in Defying Gravity?

Answer 11

Allegro

Question 12

What is the key of Defying Gravity?

Answer 12

D major

Question 13

How could the main texture of Defying Gravity be described?

Answer 13

Melody-dominated homophony

Question 14

How could the texture in the final section of Defying Gravity be described?

Answer 14

Contrapuntal/polyphony

Question 15

How could the tonality in the opening of Defying Gravity be described?

Answer 15

Ambiguous. All stabbed chords with accent moving in ascendng semitone.

Question 16

Which harmonic device is used in the final section of Defying Gravity?

Answer 16

Pedal

Question 17

Chords in Defying Gravity are mostly in what inversion?

Answer 17

Root position

Question 18

What frequently happens to the tempo at the end of sections in Defying Gravity?

Answer 18

Rallentando / slows

Question 19

What are the time signatures used in Defying Gravity?

Answer 19

3/2, then 2/2, then 4/4

Question 20

What is syncopation?

Answer 20

What is syncopation?

Question 21

Which rhythmic device is used at the ends of phrases or to add freedom to longer rhythms in Defying Gravity?

Answer 21

Pause marks / fermata

Question 22

What is the musical form used in the introduction?

Answer 22

recitative - spoken singing.

Question 23

What rhythmic device is used often to create a magical, uplifting effect?

Answer 23

metrical shifting

Question 24

The harmony in DF is very extended. What is it called when two keys are used at the same time?

Answer 24

Bitonal

Question 25

Why is the tonality at the start of verse 1 sounding unclear?

Answer 25

use of bare 5ths. Missing out the 3d note to create uncertainty of major or minor chord.

Question 26

What interval is used very often in the melody to create a sense of power and breaking free?

Answer 26

perfect 5th.