Defying Gravity

Question 1

Orchestration

5 points

Answer 1

• Brass used in homophonic chords, fanfare like
• Drums add rythmic momentum with repeated hi-hat in first chorus
• Cymbal roll into chorus creating excitement
• Strings sometimes tremolo for tension
• Synth and glockenspiel used for magical sounds

Question 2

Rhythm, Metre and Tempo

5 points

Answer 2

• Vocal part mostly crotchets and quavers, sometimes long notes at phrase end
• Rests break phrases, phrases start with a rest
• Dotted rhythms throughout
• Syncopation
• Frequent rallentandos

Question 3

Texture

5 Points

Answer 3

• Mainly homophonic
• Sparse texture at the beggining
• Coda is polyphonic
• Ostinato accompaniement(Bar 88)
• Homophonic chordal textures(Bar 132)

Question 4

Tonality

4 Points

Answer 4

• Intro modulates a lot until reaching Dmaj at the verse
• Unlimited section in Gmaj
• Ambigious tonality at the beggining, chromatic descending scale
• “Well are you coming” returns to chromatic melody of intro

Question 5

Melody

Answer 5

• Syllabic word setting
• Leaps often a perfect 5th
• Other times angular leaps e.g compund 5th (Bar 140)
• Verse and chorus combine conjucnt and disjunct melodies
• Melody is often legato for contrast to triumphant sections