Defying Gravity

Question 1

Intro dynamics

Answer 1

Sf and accented but used crescendo showing increasing anger

Question 2

Intro rhythm

Answer 2

• 3/2 which shows they are not on same wavelength and not aligned
• Heavy syncopation to show unstableness

Question 3

Intro context / studio techniques

Answer 3

Guitars playing with overdrive on b11 such as wah wah effect

Question 4

Intro structure

Answer 4

Intro…

Question 5

Intro melody

Answer 5

• many spoken not sung
• text is mainly syllabic

Question 6

Intro instrumentation

Answer 6

• vocals
• brass
• winds
• keyboard
• drum kit
• guitar
• tubular bells
• synth

Question 7

Intro texture

Answer 7

Mainly MDH but usés ‘colla voce’ to follow the voice

Question 8

Intro key sig

Answer 8

D major as it was transposed from Db major

Question 9

Intro harmony

Answer 9

• short snappy chords that shift down semitone tone to create chromatic and dissonance as if they arguing
• use of augmented chords
• perfect cadence to end intro

Question 10

L1 Middle

Answer 10

• homophonic (almost full fanfare)
• change into andante
• key sig of B major and B notes to complement
• motif used throughout

Question 11

L1 (sad and melancholic) dynamics

Answer 11

• quieter with many crescendos and dims
• fermentas

Question 12

L1 rhythm

Answer 12

• syncopated
• motif

Question 13

L1 Mélody

Answer 13

• conjunct with few angular leaps (the disjunct and rising melody is more in chorus)
• few leaps to show the inclination to subvert stereotypes
• legato and melancholic

Question 14

L1 instruments

Answer 14

• bass clarinet b28
• b30 with guitar and strings to show dissonance and bass guitar

Question 15

L1 texture

Answer 15

Homophonic choral opening which is legato and conjunct

Question 16

L1 Harmony

Answer 16

• key sig of F major with reinforced f notes in bass
• rising perfect 5ths
• d resolves to c to create suspension and dissonance

Question 17

Verse 1 and section 2 dynamics

Answer 17

• a tempo
• dims to start ‘something has changed within me..’
• pause before ‘leap’

Question 18

V1 rhythm

Answer 18

-syncopation
- main theme

Question 19

V1 context

Answer 19

• guitar and overdrive at b45

Question 20

V1 melody

Answer 20

• usually conjunct with few angular leaps
• uses word painting

Question 21

V1 instrument

Answer 21

-strings play tremolo
- synth to play main theme
- guitar

Question 22

V1 texture

Answer 22

MDH

Question 23

V1 harmony

Answer 23

• back into d major then g major
• along with tremolo of strings, G sus chord played with A to create dissonance
• c sus chords with extended chords

Question 24

V1 harmony change

Answer 24

Pitch change into G F# D A which shows a lift in mood

Question 25

Chorus 1 dynamics

Answer 25

• allegro
• crescendo to show growing confidence

Question 26

C1 rhythm

Answer 26

• metric shifted
• short repeated pattern of ostinato creating cross rhythm over bars
• dotter rhythm

Question 27

C1 Melody

Answer 27

• high tessitura and range
• scaling arpeggiated pattern
• word painting of ‘pull me down’

Question 28

C1 instrumentation

Answer 28

• orchestra has dramatic effect
• brass plays homophonic choral music to create fanfare manner
• tremolo to add tension
• cymbal roll for excitement and hi hat for rhythm
  -full band (tutti) to give grand feel

Question 29

C1 harmony

Answer 29

• b6
• g4
• a5

Question 30

Section 2 rhythm and harmony

Answer 30

• motif continues
• syncopation
• triplets
• short cycle of 5ths = D G C

Question 31

C2

Answer 31

• not clashing anymore
• interrupted cadence
• high tessitura
• synth and glockenspiel used for a high magical and celestial sound with repeated quaver accompaniment
• harmony = B6, G5, A4

Question 32

End of c2 to transition

Answer 32

• harmony and key sig chnages into G major for ‘down’ where it is bitonal
• the c plays the g in bass
• time sim changes from 22 to 44