‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked

Schwartz Harmony and Tonality

Copyright © 2016 Sean Young

Music for Stage and Screen

Opening tonally ambiguous

Augmented and Half-diminished chords

Some chromatic movement

Performing Forces

Duet for Elphaba and Glinda

Large orchestra plus electric guitar, drums and synth

Texture

Mainly homophonic

Sfz chords at beginning

Melody

Uses several recurring themes (leitmotifs)

Rhythm and Metre

Numerous tempo changes

Percussion emphasises tempo changes

Large leaps and stepwise motion

Structure

Extended verse-chorus form

Mainly root position chords

Syllabic vocal part

Prominence of Perfect 4ths and 5ths

Use of duple, triple, and quadruple time

Extensive use of syncopation and dotted rhythms

Large percussion section

Largely in D major

Some monophony

Polyphonic chorus

Wide vocal range

Some spoken dialogue

Contrapuntal ending

‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked

Schwartz Harmony and Tonality

Copyright © 2016 Sean Young

Music for Stage and Screen

Opening tonally ambiguous

Augmented and Half-diminished chords

Some chromatic movement

Performing Forces

Duet for Elphaba and Glinda

Large orchestra plus electric guitar, drums and synth

Texture

Mainly homophonic

Sfz chords at beginning

Melody

Uses several recurring themes (leitmotifs)

Rhythm and Metre

Numerous tempo changes

Percussion emphasises tempo changes

Large leaps and stepwise motion

Structure

Extended verse-chorus form

Mainly root position chords

Syllabic vocal part

Prominence of Perfect 4ths and 5ths

Use of duple, triple, and quadruple time

Extensive use of syncopation and dotted rhythms

Large percussion section

Largely in D major

Some monophony

Polyphonic chorus

Wide vocal range

Some spoken dialogue

Contrapuntal ending