Elfman: Batman Returns

Question 1

When was Batman Returns released?

Answer 1

1992

Question 2

Through the score, what 3 themes reoccur?

Answer 2

Batman’s theme
Catwoman’s theme
The Penguin’s theme

Question 3

To perhaps reflect the theme of Batman Returns that all 3 main characters has suffered some great trauma, what has been done?

Answer 3

The 3 themes are all very similar melodically (visually look at them)

Question 4

How do the 3 themes differ?

Answer 4

Orchestration
Rhythm

Question 5

How is Batman’s theme unique?

Answer 5

Brass instruments to portray Batman

Question 6

How is Catwoman’s theme unique?

Answer 6

Catwoman portrayed by slinky string sounds with…
High glissandi
Dissonant clusters

Question 7

How is The Penguin’s theme unique?

Answer 7

Most theatrical:
Often using…
A chorus of voices
Pipe organ
Full orchestra

Question 8

How is the mood of ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’ reflected as the wealthy Cobblepots abandon their baby?

Answer 8

Chilling way the soundtrack opens:
Low notes on organ (instrument associated with the Penguin, religious, expensive like parents)

=> threat and danger

The ‘Batman’ theme heard on horns over the top

Question 9

How is innocence suggested in comparison to threat and danger in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’?

Answer 9

Children’s voices
Music-box quality of the celesta

Question 10

What is happening musically during the shot of Penguin disappearing into the sewer in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’?

Answer 10

A two-bar coda

Question 11

What is the two-bar coda in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’ written for?

Answer 11

Harp
Low strings

Question 12

What does the cue ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’ accompany?

Answer 12

Film’s main titles

Question 13

What happens when the film’s title appears in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’?
When does this happen?

Answer 13

Triumphant C major chord
Followed by a militaristic version of the ‘Batman’ theme
Bar 21

Question 14

Describe the atmosphere of ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’

Answer 14

Melodramatic
Portentous

Question 15

What adds to the dark, troubled atmosphere of ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’?

Answer 15

Use of predominantly low orchestral sounds
Frequent key changes

Question 16

What happens to create an almost sigh like or sound of comfort in ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 2’?
When?

Answer 16

Falling minor third pattern in the voices
Bar 55

Question 17

How does ‘Batman vs the Circus’ open?
What happens on screen?
What happens musically then?

Answer 17

Quietly in low strings

Batman signal sent to alert Batman of danger in Gotham city
Batman’s theme on brass
Over a long crescendo

Question 18

What happens a bar 13 of ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

Answer 18

Less sinister
More cartoonish with ‘oom-pah-pah’ style trombones

Question 19

How is the the threatening atmosphere kept in ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

Answer 19

Allusion to murder scene in Psycho in violins, bar 25

Question 20

Describe the music in ‘Batman vs the Circus’ from bar 26

Answer 20

Manic
Fast
Lively

Question 21

What happens at bar 26 of ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

Answer 21

Start of madcap xylophone solo

Question 22

Give two examples of the orchestral effects in ‘Batman vs the Circus’

Answer 22

Trumpet extreme lip trill (bars 50-51)
Oboe extremely wide vibrato (bars 57-58)

Question 23

What unusual instruments are used in ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

Answer 23

Fairground steam organ
Swannee whistle

Question 24

What contributes to the unsettling nature of ‘Batman vs the Circus’?

Answer 24

Changing time signatures throughout

Question 25

What does ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’ begin with?

Answer 25

New theme in cello and basses

Question 26

In ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’ what accompanies appearances of Catwoman?

Answer 26

Harp glissando leads to high-pitched violins

Question 27

What is heard beneath the new theme and appearances of Catwoman in ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’?

Answer 27

Penguin’s theme on harp and organ

Question 28

At bar 20 of ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’, what solo appears? What theme is this related to?

Answer 28

A jokey accordion solo Features music related to the Penguin’s theme in the bass

Question 29

At bar 30 and onwards, what references ‘Birth of a Penguin Part 1’?

Answer 29

The celesta

Question 30

Describe the theme that appears in bar 47 of ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’?

Answer 30

Pompous C minor

Question 31

What does the theme from bar 47 SUDDENLY change to in ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’? What effect does this create?

Answer 31

3 bars (50-52) based on a whole tone scale Unsettling

Question 32

What key does ‘The Rise and Fall From Grace’ end in?

Answer 32

Triumphant C major