The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd

Question 1

Melody?

Answer 1

• opening has repeated minor 2nd
• opening melody has range of a 6th and based of requiem
• ends on G#
• verse 2 has high WW countermelody based on 4 5 and 6
• chorus melody rises to tonic
• verse 3 has 2 part WW CM
• build up to second chorus is based on B followed by archshape from E to A b110-113
• chorus 2 is contrapuntal and made up of many melodies e.g conjunct by tenor
• builds to finish on C#-C
• opening melody repeats

Question 2

Harmony?

Answer 2

• dark chromatic harmony
• tonic pedal at start
• verse 2 suggests bitinality yk why
• harsh dissonance in the chorus with E# and G clashing against F# pedal
• no perfect cadences in build up to chorus 2
  -chorus 2 all based on F#minsus4 then add 7 later
• b128 cluster chord of B, B#, E, F# and A
• b129 cluster chord of E9 with E# dissonant
• chorus 2 reaches a climax in bar 130 where F#min and E# min triad alternate
• followed by dissonant Frigian bassline with C and G

Question 3

Rhythm?

Answer 3

-opens with constant 6/8 quavers
- anacrustic opening melody
- conversational rhythms
- completely straight rhythms in chorus with every word accented
- hemiola in bar 105
- 2 fitted minims at climax of chorus 2
- weak beat emphasised at the end

Question 4

Tonality?

Answer 4

• F# natural minor with aeolian feel
• suggestion of bitinality in b46 as g min triad with C#7 chords
• finally ambiguous in build to chorus 2 as no v-I
• quasi Frisian feel after chorus 2 due ti C and G in F#min

Question 5

Texture?

Answer 5

• melody and accomp with vocal melody and woodwinds and lower strings
• homophonic texture in chorus and chorus 2 starts in octaves
• stripped back contrapuntal imitative in chorus 2
• soprano sings canon with 2 bar delay in bar 124
• fully polyphonic in bar 128
• antiphonal in verse 3

Question 6

Sonority?

Answer 6

• opens with bassoon clarinet cello and viola
• touch 4 harmonic by violin in verse 2
• tremolo strings in chorus
• timpani at start of chorus and bass drum at end
• woodwind and strings whkd chords in chorus 2
• descending brass sequence at end of chorus 2 later brass motif b148
• lower vocal register at end