West Side Story

Question 1

<i>West Side Story</i> is a modern retelling of which story?

Answer 1

<i>Romeo and Juliet</i> by Shakespeare

“star-crossed lovers”

Question 2

Where is <i>West Side Story</i> set in?

Answer 2

New York City in 1950s

Question 3

Who are the two rival street gangs in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 3

Jets (American),

Sharks (Puerto Rican)

Question 4

Who are the star-crossed lovers in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 4

Maria (Puerto Rican)

Tony (American)

Question 5

How did <i>West Side Story</i> differ from the broadway world?

Answer 5

it’s tragic conclusion was different from the cheerful and frothy musicals

Question 6

What is the genre of <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 6

musical theatre

Question 7

What is the date of <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 7

1957

Question 8

Who are the librettists for <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 8

<b>Arthur Laurents</b> (playwright),

<b>Stephen Sondheim</b> (lyricists)

Question 9

Who was the choreographer for <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 9

<b>Jerome Robbins</b>

Question 10

Who directed the 1961 film of <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 10

<b>Robert Wise,</b>

Jerome Robbins</b>

Question 11

Who is <b>Maria</b> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 11

soprano

Puerto Rican girl, sister of <b>Bernardo</b>

Question 12

Who is <b>Tony</b> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 12

tenor

member of Jets

Question 13

Who is <b>Bernardo</b> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 13

baritone

leader of Sharks

Question 14

Who is <b>Riff</b> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 14

baritone

leader of Jets

Question 15

Who is <b>Anita</b> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 15

mezzo soprano

girlfriend of Bernardo

Question 16

What happened when the two gangs fight in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 16

<b>Bernardo</b> stabs <b>Riff</b>

then <b>Tony</b> stabs and kills Bernardo (Maria’s brother)

Question 17

What is the tragic end of <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 17

<b>Tony</b> is stabbed by a a Sharks member

<b>Maria</b> arrives but <b>Tony</b> is already dead

Question 18

Who sings in <u>"Maria"</u> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 18

<b>Tony</b> (tenor)

Question 19

Where was <u>"Maria"</u> in <i>West Side Story</i> set in?

Answer 19

outside the gymnasium, where <b>Tony</b> has just fallen in love with <b>aria</b>

Question 20

What are the sentiments in <u>"Maria"</u> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 20

he reflects rapturously on her name

Question 21

What is the key in <u>"Maria"</u> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 21

B major - E flat major

Question 22

What is the time signature in <u>"Maria"</u> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 22

C

Question 23

How is the opening melody sung in the <b>Introduction</b> of <u>"Maria"</u> in <i>West Side Story</i>?

Answer 23

chant-like intonation

suggest <b>Tony’s</b> worshipful adoration

Question 24

How are the <b>repeated D’s<b> supported in the <b>Introduction</b> of <u>"Maria"</u> in <i>West Side Story</i>?</b></b>

Answer 24

by modal harmony and free rhythm

Question 25

How is the verse sung for "Ma-ri-a" in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer 25

begins on a tritone interval angular motive: Eb(D#) - A natural - Bb

Question 26

What does the angular motive convey in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer 26

strife (disagreement), yearning, star-crossed love

Question 27

What does the melody do before returning to the opening theme in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer 27

it traces a broad arc

Question 28

What does the return of the opening them do in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer 28

it serves as a postlude (conclude)

Question 29

How are the strings related to the voice in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer 29

the lush strings doubles the voice throughout

Question 30

How is the musical climax heightened in the Introduction of "Maria" in West Side Story?

Answer 30

timpani is used

Question 31

Who sings in "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 31

Anita (mezzo soprano), Rosalia (soprano), other Puerto Rican girls

Question 32

Where is "America" in West Side Story set in?

Answer 32

an alley behind Bernardo and Maria's house

Question 33

What are the sentiments in "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 33

Rosalia is homesick for Puerto Rico Anita defiantly declares love for new home, Manhattan Sondheim's lyrics praise both virtues and false promises of the American Dream

Question 34

What is the formal structure of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 34

Verse-Chorus structure, | preceded by introduction

Question 35

What is the tonality like in the Introduction: "Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . ." of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 35

ambiguous tonality with modal inflections

Question 36

How is the Latin ambiance established in the Introduction: "Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . ." of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 36

claves (wood blocks), guiro (ribbed gourd), cross-rhythms, rhythmic ostinato

Question 37

What do the Spanish guitar and celesta provide in the Introduction: "Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . ." of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 37

undulating lines in parallel thirds in rising and falling triplets

Question 38

What does Rosalie's long phrases and free rhythm convey in the Introduction: "Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . ." of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 38

yearning and nostalgia

Question 39

What is Anita's response to Rosalie in the Introduction: "Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . ." of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 39

Anita expresses her loathing of Puerto Rico and her love for Manhattan

Question 40

How is word painting on "breezes" achieved in the Introduction: "Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . ." of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 40

arched motive based on whole-tone scale | Glissandi on string harmonics

Question 41

How does the rest of the song generally go after the Introduction: "Puerto Rico, you lovely island . . ." of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 41

rest of the song unfolds in series of choruses and verses played at a faster tempo

Question 42

What is the key in the Chorus: "I like to be in America" of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 42

C major, with sudden (jazzy) modulations

Question 43

How is the word "America" repeated in the Chorus: "I like to be in America" of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 43

versus use syncopated phrases

Question 44

How is the argumentative exchange conveyed in the Chorus: "I like to be in America" of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 44

verses call and response pattern between Rosalie and Anita

Question 45

How is the Hemiola effect established in the Chorus: "I like to be in America" of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 45

choruses and verses alternate a 6/8 and 3/4 pattern

Question 46

How is rhythmic energy provided in the Chorus: "I like to be in America" of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 46

snappy syncopations

Question 47

How is the Latin flavour achieved in the Chorus: "I like to be in America" of "America" in West Side Story?

Answer 47

``` guitar, claves, maracas, additional percussion instruments, texture: trumpets & drums give in intensity to overall sound ```

Question 48

How does the colorful orchestration help paint the vivd portraits in West Side Story?

Answer 48

in the opening, Rosalie is doubled sweetly by a flute, | Anita is accompanied by a mournful oboe