Sondheim Flashcards
(30 cards)
rhythm
complex rhythms, hemiola, omits downbeats
structure
recurring motifs, through-composed
melody
diatonic, repetitive
instrumentation
full orchestra
harmony
non functional, dissonant, suspension, appoggiaturas, pedal notes
agony harmony + tonality
Cm suggested in melody line even though Emaj - initial confusion, accented passing notes and appogiaturas (D# against E (also when ‘agony’ is sung)) - slight dissonance for more confusion, ‘agony’ and ‘wife’ (last word) is E5 which is very high for baritone so maybe physical pain shown, little movement in baseline - mostly pedal notes shows princes aren’t going to get anywhere
agony rhythm
extra beat on ‘just out of reach’ (6/8 to 9/8) - word painting as accompaniment arrives before vocal melody, bean motif in crotchet quaver version - extended to show more distress and anger, barcarolle rhythm - Venetian gondola song indicates simplicity, exact same rhythm and melody when brother joins
agony melody
Cm suggested in melody line, low tessitura except for when singing ‘agony’ for emphasis - also shows their moodiness and sulking, diatonic, large intervals, ascending sequences when they get worked up
agony texture
melody dominated homophony, heavier texture on ‘agony’, flute countermelody and trills to represent rapunzel - taunting him, ‘different for each’ sang in unison - word painting, antiphony and unison - can’t really function by themselves
giants in the sky rhythm
short note values in melody and lack of rests - breathlessness, ostinatos, crotchet version of bean motif to show excitement, montuno and son clave style bass for drive, push rhythm on ‘big tall terrible GIANT’ - uncontainable excitement
giants in the sky melody
diatonic which doesn’t reflect ‘terrible’, obstinate in orchestra, large contrasts in tessitura
giants in the sky texture
countermelodies, ‘the fun is done’ - cluster chords and false relations in brass and other instruments create siren effect - word painting
giants in the sky harmony (+ structure)
key changes with no warning to signify new emotions,
last midnight rhythm
x motif, y motif, x+y motif, lots of syncopation, more movement a song progresses - erratic, more syncopation on ‘give her the boy’ + ‘placing the blame’ for emphasis, only uses triplet crotchets once
last midnight melody
x and y motifs, chromatic melody - reflects complex character, low tessitura in accompaniment - menacing
last midnight instrumentation
glissandi in pitched percussion to show throwing beans, muted brass and tritones - harsh sound, horn countermelody - echo/spooky woods, massive orchestra, prominent bassoon and pizz bass
last midnight harmony
open 5ths - ambiguity, long notes and pedal notes - eerie lurking tone, pedal notes change on downbeat for more drive, tritones in brass
green finch rhythm
cross rhythms, very strict with tempo marks reflects Johanna’s situation
green finch melody
mostly conjunct and scalic, birdsong motif in woodwind from mimicking Johanna’s melodic line, ‘are you dreaming’ to ‘are you screaming’ should be a sequence but is static to show how she’s stuck
green finch instrumentation
celesta plays when ‘are you dreaming’
green finch harmony
subdominant creates a homely feel, gentle dissonances not very obvious
worst pies in London rhythm
constant fast note values - breathlessness, changes in time signature allow certain words to be on strong beat for more emphasis
worst pies instrumentation
percussion interrupts melody to reflect what happens on stage - comedic emphasis
worst pies melody
diatonic and conjunct even though it sounds dissonant and chromatic bc of frantic atmosphere, tessitura rises with excitement
