Studied by 2 people
What is the structure like? How many verses are there? How many choruses are there?
Distinct verse-chorus form
3 Verses: bar 34, bar 63, bar 135
4 choruses: bar 50, bar 79, bar 103, bar 151
within this structure, there are also many contrasting sections
Bars 1 - 19 (0:00-0:32)
What is the tempo like?
What are the vocals like?
What is the accompaniment like at the start? What does it develop into?
What is the key?
What are the dynamics like throughout?
free tempo (colla voce) - follows the voice/no distinct tempo
recitative vocals by Glinda and Elphaba - combination of dialogue and singing
accompaniment at the start - orchestral (tutti) chord stabs, with sparse monophonic moments
accompaniment becomes chordal and sustained
no clear key; atonal
the dynamics start with sforzando chords at the beginning, and the vocals start in forte, and there are multiple crescendos in the introduction
Bars 20 - 48 (0:33-1:49)
What is the tempo like?
What bar does the verse start?
How does the key change throughout? Where does it modulate?
What is the texture like?
What is the melody like?
What technique is played in the accompaniment at 1:16 (bar 33)?
What instrument comes in at 1:29 (bar 40)?
What are the dynamics like throughout?
the tempo is andante, but there is a rallentando before the first verse
the verse starts bar 34
the key modulates to B major at the start (bar 20, on ‘now’) and then modulates to F major (bar 22, after ‘listen to me’). it then modulates to D major (bar 32, on ‘more’) and remains throughout
the texture is homophonic and chordal
the melody is syllabic, legato and conjunct.
the technique played in the accompaniment at 1:16 (bar 33) is a tremolando by the strings
the instrument that comes in at bar 40 is a guitar with overdrive
the dynamics start mezzopiano,then there’s a crescendo to mezzoforte on the first ‘more’ but then there’s an immediate diminuendo to mezzopiano again on ‘something’.
Bars 49 - 87 (1:50-2:48)
What is the tempo like?
When does the first chorus come in?
When does the second verse come in?
When does the second chorus come in?
How is melody sung in the chorus?
Describe the accompaniment in the first chorus.
Describe the rhythm of the melody line in the second verse.
What are the dynamics like throughout?
the tempo is allegro
the first chorus comes in at bar 50 (1:50)
the second verse comes in at bar 63 (2:11)
the second chorus comes in at bar 79 (2:34)
the melody in the chorus is leaping and is the hook
the accompaniment in the first chorus is broken chords (keyboard ostinato) and driving high hat rhythms
the rhythm of the second verse starts with Glinda singing a crotchet triple-based melody, before Elphaba takes over with a syncopated version of the verse, which leads into the chorus
the dynamics stay forte throughout
Bars 88 - 102 (2:49-3:29)
What is the tempo like?
What key does this contrasting section modulate to?
What is the accompaniment like at the start (bar 88)?
What is the importance of the ‘unlimited’ melody?
In what way are the characters singing?
What are the dynamics like throughout?
the tempo is moderato
the key modulates to G major
the accompaniment is an ostinato on the synth of semiquavers
the ‘unlimited’ melody is a reference to the song ‘somewhere over the rainbow’ from the original wizard of Oz musical, the sequel to Wicked. The first few notes are the exact same, just the rhythm and lyrics have changed.
The characters are singing in unison for most of this section
the dynamics start off as piano until they crescendo to forte
Bars 103 - 110 (3:30-3:43)
What is the tempo like?
What section is this?
What key does this section return to?
Who is singing?
Do they sing in unison or harmony?
What is the accompaniment like?
What are the dynamics like throughout?
What happens to the tempo at the end?
the tempo is allegro
this section is the 3rd chorus
the key returns to D major
both Elphaba and Glinda are singing
They sing in unison, then in harmony on the second ‘you and I’
there is a strong piano accompaniment with loud drums
the dynamics are forte
there is a rallentando at the end (tempo slows down)
Bar 111 - 128 (3:44-4:23)
What is the tempo like?
What is the texture like?
What does the melody mirror?
What key does it modulate to at the start?
What instruments play at the start?
What key does it modulate to just before she sings?
What key does it modulate to after ‘regret it’?
What are the dynamics like throughout?
the tempo is andante, and there is a rallentando at the end
the texture is homophonic and chordal
the melody mirrors the recitative-like opening
the key modulates to Eb major at the start
after the modulation, a flute plays the leitmotif, and then a glock plays
before she sings, the key modulates again to Bb major
after ‘regret it’ the key modulates to Ab major
the dynamics start of mezzopiano, then the vocals come in at mezzoforte, then there is a crescendo, and then the section ends on mezzopiano
Bars 129 - 161 (4:24-5:15)
What is the tempo like?
When does the 3rd and final verse start?
When does the final chorus start?
This is the c____ of the song
What is the instrumentation like?
What does the key return to?
How does is crescendo emphasized at the beginning?
What happens to the rhythm and tempo at bars 141-143 (4:42-4:46)?
What are the dynamics like throughout?
What happens to the tempo at the end?
the tempo is allegro
the 3rd and final verse starts at bar 135
the final chorus starts at bar 151
this is the climax of the song
instrumentation = full orchestra
the key returns to D major
the crescendo is emphasized at the beginning by short quavers of strings and piano
At bar 141, the vocal rhythm changes to triplets and the tempo slows down (rallentando), and then at 143 the vocal rhythm changes back and the tempo of allegro returns (a tempo)
dynamics: crescendo at start from mezzoforte to forte, and the final chorus is in fortissimo
tempo slows down (rallentando)
Bars 162 - 177 (5:15-5:53)
What is the tempo like?
What section is this called?
What does the key modulate to in bar 168?
Who is singing?
What are the dynamics like throughout?
What happens to the tempo at the end?
the tempo goes from andante to maestro
this section is the finale
the key modulates to B minor at bar 168
Everyone is singing: Elphaba, Glinda and the ensemble - they are singing in counterpoint, with different musical lines and lyrics
Dynamics start mezzopiano, crescendo to fortissimo on ‘me’
the tempo slows down at the end (rallentando)
describe the overall melodic structure
syllabic throughout with rhythms moving in a speech like manner
there is vocalization at the end in bar 175
the melody starts in a conjunct / step like manner
leaps often feature a rising perfect fifth (e.g bar 34), some unusually large leaps
syncopation
off beat notes/rhythms
push rhythms
where notes are pushed slightly ahead of the beat; type of syncopation
metre
time signature, how many beats in a bar
rests
a break/gap in the music
What indicates syncopation?
ties between notes, and rests before phrases
What is the purpose of syncopation/push rhythms?
they don’t fit strictly to the beat, which gives a sense of excitement.
What are some examples of push rhythms?
in the vocal line “too late for second guessing” in bar 42
in the chords during the chorus - show syncopation as well as push rhythms
Note 
Flashcard (35)