defying gravity

Question 1

Is it monophonic, homophonic or polyphonic?

Answer 1

It starts off monophonic in the introduction.
Bar 20 the bass becomes homophonic and chordal- more like a fanfare.
As it builds it becomes polyphonic

Question 2

What key does it start in?

Answer 2

D flat major for elephaba
D major for Glinda.

Question 3

Colla voce

Answer 3

follow the voice
Sings in a free manner and the instruments follow

Question 4

What is the accompaniment like in the beginning?

Answer 4

chordal and sustained.
Creates a distortion effect
The accompaniment matches with the singers creating a homophonic effect.

Question 5

What instruments are used?

Answer 5

flute
oboe
bass clarinet
bassoon
baritone saxophone
two horns
two trumpets
two trombones
percussion
harp
two violins
viola
cello
double bass
drum kit
two guitars- create a distortion effect
three synthesiser

Question 6

In bar 89 what key does it change too?

Answer 6

changes to G major

Question 7

What is the structure of the piece?

Answer 7

introduction- bars 1-14
verse 1- bars 32-49
chorus-bars 49-59
LINK
verse 2-bars 63-79
chorus-bars 80-88
bridge- bars 88-103
chorus-bars 103-11
introduction reprise- bars 115-129
verse 3-bars 129-151
chorus- bars 151-162
coda-bars 162-177

Question 8

How do the dynamics change?

Answer 8

Verse 1-mp
Verse 2-f
Final chorus-ff
The dynamics change alot as the full range is used.
Many sfz are used and also fp.

Question 9

In bar 50, the chorus, what rhythms are used in the backing?

Answer 9

hi-hat rhythms
quaver ostinato (short melodic phrase repeated through a piece or composition)

Question 10

How do glinda and elphaba sing in bar 101?

Answer 10

In unison.
Also returns to d major

Question 11

What happens in bar 114?

Answer 11

There is homophonic chordal music which leads to the recitative like music.

Question 12

What happens in bar 122-123

Answer 12

Cymbal roll, crescendo +a key change to A flat major- all add excitement

Question 13

What happens in bar 135?

Answer 13

Forte dynamic
Melodic and rhythmic ideas are developed.
Verse is at a higher register- more powerful and louder.

Question 14

What effect does the tubular bell add (bar 147-148)?

Answer 14

an ethereal sonority

Question 15

What effect do the synth and glock (152)?

Answer 15

creates a high ,magical sound in accompaniment.

Question 16

What dynamic happens at the end?

Answer 16

A crescendo to ff.
Builds tension and excitement

Question 17

what is the note range?

Answer 17

highest note is F on the e string.
Lowest note is G string

Question 18

Who plays in the finale?

Answer 18

whole orchestra-tutti finale
Elphaba, Glinda, ensemble chorus and orchestra in counterpoint.

Question 19

What key is bar 168-the end?

Answer 19

B minor-dissonance???

Question 20

What effect do the strings play to create tension?

Answer 20

tremolo effects for lots of the piece

Question 21

When was defying gravity written?

Answer 21

2003

Question 22

Who wrote defying gravity?

Answer 22

Stephen Schwartz
American composer-born in 1948
He has a successful career

Question 23

What is the rhythm of the piece?

Answer 23

3/2

Question 24

MELODY key features to write about

Answer 24

The word setting is syllabic.
The Melody has a wide range of notes.
It is conjunct
The verse and chorus use conjunct and disjunct
More disjunct in chorus at b.79
Leaps often feature a rising perfect fifth (e.g. bar 34 “has changed”).
There are some exceptionally large leaps such as a compound perfect fifth
Often the melody is legato
Starts with spoken words
There are ascending sequences
There are two different leitmotifs particularly used at the beginning.

Question 25

HARMONY key features to write about.

Answer 25

Most chords are in simple root position There is some use of dissonance (e.g bar 30) There is use of pedal notes

Question 26

TEXTURE key features to write about

Answer 26

Main texture is homophonic The intro has a sparse texture with chord stabs in the orchestra and some monophonic bars. Usually sing separately but sometimes in unison. The outro is polyphonic Ostinato accompaniment eg bar 88 Sometimes the orchestra play homophonic chordal textures, like at bar 132

Question 27

TONALITY key features to write about

Answer 27

Mainly in D major At the start the tonality is ambiguous. It uses unrelated chord sequences and chromatic movement. Modulates to B major, F major and G major G major in bar 88 D major bar 104 for chorus Ending is in B minor-finishes on a D major chord

Question 28

RHYTHM,METRE,TEMPO key features to write about

Answer 28

There is frequent syncopation throughout.(when the offbeats are given a greater degree of emphasis than the normal beats) The intro starts in 3/2 time, then changes to 2/2 . When verse 1 starts it then goes into 4/4 time. At bar 115 (“I hope you’re happy”) it goes back to 2/2 time. There is colla voce There are triplets, ralls and dotted rhythms Phrases often start with rests Hi hat rhythms

Question 29

INSTRUMENTS/SONORITY key features

Answer 29

Duet for elphaba and glinda The two singers either speak, sing, or perform their lines half sung half spoken. guitar with overdrive- i hope your proud- creates a distortion effect. Synthesizers and glockenspiels are used for high pitched “magical” sounds-in the final chorus (also with “magical” sounding tubular bells) The brass plays homophonic chordal music, like a fanfare The drum kit adds rhythmic momentum with a repeated hi hat ( a combination of two cymbals) in the first chorus. Drum fills - adds rhythmic interest. There is a cymbal roll moving into the chorus which adds excitement- bar 122 The strings sometimes use tremolo to add tension (eg the start of verse 1) Tubular bells- create an ethereal sonority.