Defying Gravity

What is the main setting of the melody in 'Defying Gravity'?

The melody has a syllabic setting throughout.

The melody features a wide range, including both high and low notes.

The melody has a wide range (fairly high and low!).

How does the melody start in 'Defying Gravity'?

The melody starts with stepwise movement (conjunct).

What kinds of movement are combined in the verse and chorus of the song?

The verse and chorus combine stepwise movement and big leaps (disjunct).

What makes the words in 'Defying Gravity' clearly understandable?

The syllabic word setting and natural speech-like rhythms make the words clearly understandable.

Identify a common leap feature in the melody.

Leaps often feature a rising perfect fifth.

Which chord is the piece mainly in?

The piece is mainly in D major.

At the beginning, the tonality of 'Defying Gravity' is ambiguous.

At the start the tonality is ambiguous.

What does the final maestoso section lead to?

The final maestoso section is in B minor, before finishing on a D major chord.

Who are the characters performing in 'Defying Gravity'?

The song is a duet for the characters Elphaba and Glinda.

How do the two vocal parts in the song perform their lines?

The two singers either speak, sing, or perform their lines half sung half spoken.

Which instruments contribute to the modern sound of 'Defying Gravity'?

The song uses a big orchestra plus 3 keyboards, drum kit, and electric guitars.

What is the main texture of the piece?

The main texture is homophonic (melody and accompaniment).

The outro of 'Defying Gravity' is polyphonic.

The outro is polyphonic, with Elphaba, Glinda and the chorus all singing different musical ideas at the same time.

When was 'Defying Gravity' first performed?

It was written and first performed in 2003.

What emotional shift does Elphaba experience in 'Defying Gravity'?

Elphaba discovers that the Wizard of Oz is not the heroic figure she had originally believed him to be.

What rhythmic feature is frequently used in 'Defying Gravity'?

There is frequent syncopation throughout.

What does the use of dissonance indicate in the piece?

There is some use of dissonance, as seen in bar 30.

What is the structure of the song 'Defying Gravity'?

There is a verse chorus form with multiple sections defined by changes in tempo and mood.

Who wrote 'Defying Gravity'?

The piece is written by Stephen Schwartz, an American composer and lyricist.