Defying Gravity from Wicked - Stephen Schwartz

WICKED - Context

• 2003

• final song of Act 1

• duet between Elphaba and Glinda

WICKED - Performing Forces

• Elphaba - mezzo soprano

• Glinda - soprano

• small chorus parts and the end

• 23 instruments in orchestra

WICKED - Texture

• sparse in the opening, some monophonic

• ostinato (repeating motif)

• Elphaba and Glinda are only occasionally in unison

• verse - melody-dominated homophony

• homophonic chordal moments

WICKED - Tonality

• D major

• tonally ambiguous opening with chordal movement

WICKED - Metre

• metre changes 3/2, 2/2, 4/4

• mainly 2/2

WICKED - Tempo

• colla voce (follow voice)

• andante

• allegro

• moderato

• maestoso (majestic)

• rall

WICKED - Rhythm

• dotted rhythms

• triplets

• predominantly crotchet + quaver based

• each phrase stars off the beat

• rests used to break up phrases

• frequent syncopation

WICKED - Harmony

• chord progression unrelated

• chords in root position

• pedal point

• some dissonance

WICKED - Melody

• vocalisation

• conjunct

• syllabic

• leaps often a perfect 5th

• some angular leaps

• leitmotif

• word painting

• phrases often start on a weak beat