herrmann - the toys

sonority 3

downbows in viola, pizz in cello, divisi, con sord

structure 4

2 bar intro, short, repeated 3 bar phrases in upper strings, double ostinato pedal, sustained pedal to end

harmony 6

9th chord in lower strings (e and f), parallel descending 7th chords, pandiatonicism, half dim 7th bars 6 and 11, ends on a 9th diad

tonality 2

atonal, but not chromatic, pedal creates a sense of grounding, but 9th makes it unsettling

melody 1

rising semitones in lower parts

texture 5

homophonic in upper strings, double ostinati pedal in viola and cello, polarised texture, divisi in violins, doubled octave pedal

tempo, rhythm and metre 4

common time, slow tempo, crotchet pulse in lower strings with long note values in upper strings, ends with a sustained pedal

wider listening - subtle string melodies underlined by ostinato

Portman - 'The Duchess: Mistake of your Life'