Birth of a Penguin Part 2

Structure

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• Through Composed - The structure of the music is determined by the narrative of the film - ET: Flying Theme by John Williams & Planet of the Apes: The hunt by Goldsmith

Tonality

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• D minor with tonic pedal - Minor keys = Tense atmosphere - Dark tonality is typical of Elfman’s style e.g. Corpse Bride, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

• Bb minor - Tertiary modulation = Typical of film music - Tertiary mod in Titanic: Take her to Sea Mr Murdoch by Horner

• C major - Title of the film appears on screen - climax moment. Such a dramatic change to a major key helps to represent this

Harmony

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• Tonic Pedal - Drama / Tension / emphasises key - Star Wars by John Williams

• First inversion chords - Contrasts to normal root position chords

• Bare 5th chord near the very end - Ambiguous / uncertain - Duchess: SYL by Portman

Melody

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• Rising & Falling arpeggio shapes from the start - Creates a sense of movement - ET: Flying Theme by John Williams

• Penguin leitmotif is augmented - Leitmotif unifies the film score, augmentation provides variation - Varied repetitions in Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde (opera) & The Duchess cues & Start Wars by John Williams

• Full Batman leitmotif - Full leitmotif - Micheal Keaton’s Name on screen

• Varied repitions of leitmotif - Unifies the cue whilst creating variety:

  • Shortened version of B leitmotf

  • Diminution of B leitmotif

  • Rhythmic vairation of B letimotif to triplet crotchets

• Use of second half of the B leitmotif (falling 2nd) - Sounds like a sigh

• Repetition of a falling minor 3rd motif - Sounds soothing

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre

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• Trumpet fanfare rhythm - Militaristic sounding & adds drama - (Dracula by Kilar uses triplet rhythms for military feel & Starwars / Superman by John Williams

• Syncopation - Provides tension

• Semiquavers - Creates a sense of rapidity

• Triplets - Disrupts the pulse = instability

• Crossrhythms - Sounds conflicting = tense

• Long tonic pedal - Creates a sense of foreboding / emphasises key

Texture

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• Bass ostinato in 3rds - Thicker texture. Creates continuity - Lots of ostinati in Planet of the Apes: The hunth by Goldsmith

• Quaver triplet ostinato - Fanfare like - Lots of ostinati in Pirates of the Caribbean by Badelt

• Long tonic pedal - Sense of foreboding

• Batman leitmotif in octaves - Emphasises this key melodic content

Sonority

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• Stopped horns - Thinner, muted sound - Similar overall orchestration to Edward Scissorhands by Elfman

• Muted trumpets - Thin sounds

• Snares off - Less attacking sound

• Flutter tongue in flute - Unstable / shaky sound

• Tam Tam hit at the end - ‘Gotham city 33 years later’ appears on screen (emphasises this) - Similar use of percussion in POTA: The hunt by Goldsmith for militar / primitive feel