4.1.1

Defying Gravity

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Defying Gravity

Your first set work for Music for Stage & Screen is S Schwartz: Defying Gravity (from the album of the cast recording of Wicked).

Schwartz

Schwartz

  • Written by Stephen Schwartz and released in 2003, this song is sung by both the characters of Glinda and Elphaba.
  • Defying Gravity ends the first Act of the musical and is about Elphaba being ‘through with accepting limits’ placed on her and literally and metaphorically defying gravity.
Dynamics

Dynamics

  • Defying Gravity uses a full dynamic range from pp (very quiet) to ff (very loud).
  • There are sfz markings, meaning sforzando, which translates as ‘forced'.
  • There is also an fp marking which means to play loud and then immediately soft.
Rhythm

Rhythm

  • There is use of syncopation (off beat) and rubato (robbed time).
  • The piece starts in 3/2 to 2/2 but soon turns into 4/4.
  • In bar 101 the time signature changes to 3/4 and then back to 4/4.
  • In bar 32 the marking 'andante' is given which means ‘walking pace’. In bar 49 this changes to 'allegro' which means 'fast'.

Defying Gravity

Defying Gravity ends the first Act of Wicked and is about Elphaba being ‘through with accepting limits’ placed on her and literally and metaphorically defying gravity.

Jump to other topics
1

Musical Elements

1.1

Organisation of Pitch

1.1.1Melodic Pitch1.1.2Melodic Devices1.1.3Harmonic Pitch1.1.4Harmonic Devices1.1.5Harmonic Progressions
1.2

Tonality

1.2.1Major & Minor Tonality1.2.2End of Topic Test - Musical Elements
2

Instrumental Music 1700–1820

2.1

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.1Concerto No. 5 in D Major2.1.2Structure & Melody2.1.3Instrumentation & Texture2.1.4Harmony2.1.5Wider Listening
2.2

Beethoven: Sonata ‘Pathétique’

2.2.1Piano Sonata No. 82.2.2Structure & Melody2.2.3Other Features2.2.4Wider Listening2.2.5End of Topic Test - Instrumental Music 1700–1820
3

Vocal Music

3.1

Purcell: Music for a While

3.1.1Music for a While3.1.2Other Features3.1.3Wider Listening
3.2

Queen: Killer Queen

3.2.1Killer Queen3.2.2Other Features3.2.3Wider Listening3.2.4End of Topic Test - Vocal Music
4

Music for Stage & Screen

4.1

Schwartz: Defying Gravity

4.1.1Defying Gravity4.1.2Other Features4.1.3Wider Listening4.1.4End of Topic Test - Defying Gravity
4.2

Williams: Star Wars Episode IV

4.2.1A New Hope4.2.2Structure & Melody4.2.3Other Features4.2.4Wider Listening4.2.5End of Topic Test - Star Wars Episode IV
5

Fusions

5.1

Afro Celt Sound System: Release

5.1.1Release5.1.2Other Features5.1.3Wider Listening
5.2

Spalding: Samba Em Preludio

5.2.1Samba Em Preludio5.2.2Structure & Melody5.2.3Other Features5.2.4Wider Listening5.2.5End of Topic Test - Fusions

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End of Topic Test - Vocal Music

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