Wicked

27 - ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked (0.00-0.51)

1. Which of the following statements about the vocal part is correct? (1)

A The voices sing together throughout.

B The voices sing alternately throughout.

C The voices sing both together and separately.

D Only one voice is heard in the extract.

2. The song opens with the lines: I hope you’re happy. I hope you’re happy now! Describe how the vocal part changes. (2)

3. Name the string instrument that plays at the end of the extract. (1)

4. Describe the use of dynamics in the extract. (3)

5. Describe the accompaniment at the beginning of the extract. (4)

6. Name the two woodwind instruments heard at the end of the extract. (2)

7. Describe two rhythmic features of the vocal melody towards the end of the extract. (2)

28 - ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked (1.15-2.10)

1. Which degree of the scale to the strings play in the opening phrases of the extract? (1)

2. Name the instrumental technique used in the strings at the beginning of the extract. (1)

3. Identify the guitar effect used at the beginning of the extract. (1)

4. The extract ends with lines: ‘Can’t I make you understand, you’re having delusions of grandeur?’ Describe the rhythm of the vocal part that sings these lines. (1)

5. Explain two features of the part played by the drum kit in the extract. (4)

29 - ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked (2.49-3.33)

1. Identify the rising musical interval sung to the first two syllables of the word ‘unlimited’ at the beginning of the extract. (1)

2. What following compositional devices is heard in the accompaniment during the first half of the extract? (1)

3. The mood of this extract could be described as ‘dreamy’ or ‘magical’. Give two musical reasons to explain how this mood is achieved. (2)

4. The extract starts in G major. Name the key of the music at the end of the extract. (1)

5. The phrases ‘Dreams the way we planned ‘em’ and ‘If we work in tandem’ are heard towards the end of the extract. Identify two differences and two similarities between the melody and rhythm of these two phrases. (4)

6. Describe two features of the music in the instrumental passage at the beginning of this extract under the spoken dialogue. (2)

7. Which instrument plays the melody with the voice in the word ‘unlimited’? (1)

8. Describe the changes in dynamic and tempo in this extract after the first two vocal lines. (2)

30 - ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked (3.29-4.46)

1. Circle the appropriate answer below (1)

1. Chords are mainly inversions

2. Chords are a mixture between root position and inversion

3. Chords are mainly extended and altered

4. Chords are mainly in root position

2. Describe the tonality in this section. (3)

3. What is the overall structure of this set work? (1)

4. The extract begins Allegro. Describe the use of tempo in this extract. (3)

31 - ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked (4.16-5.27)

1. What is the texture of the vocal part at the beginning of the extract? (1)

2. The extract starts in C major. Name the key of the music at the end of the extract. (1)

3. There is a six bar instrumental between vocal sections. Describe two features of this instrumental. (2)

4. Schwartz creates a sense of drama through contrasts in orchestration. Explain two other ways Schwartz achieves a sense of drama in the extract. (4)

5. Describe the vocal melody line and use of voice in the two lines of lyrics given below. ‘And nobody in all of Oz, no wizard that there is or was’ and ‘Is ever gonna bring me down!’ (2)

6. Identify the brass instrument which is used in the accompaniment at the end of this extract (1)

7. Describe the cadence used in the phrase ‘bring me down’. (1)

8. Describe how the voices of the chorus are used and how they work together. (2)

9. What is the tonality of the final chord sung by the chorus at the end of the extract? (1)

10. What is the overall structure of this set work? (1)

32 - ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked (4.32-5.24) *2018 EXAM*

1. Describe the dynamics at the start of the extract. (1)

2. Identify the metre of the extract. (1)

A 2/2

B 3/2

C 6/8

D 12/8

3. Near the start of the extract Elphaba sings ‘And if I’m flying solo’ and ‘at least I’m flying free.’

1. Identify one similarity and one difference in the melody of these two phrases. (2)

2. Identify one similarity and one difference in the rhythm of these two phrases. (2)

4. Name one instrument that plays the quaver accompaniment in the chorus. (1)

5. After the chorus, Schwartz creates dramatic musical contrast. Give three ways in which he does this by referring to the accompaniment, tempo and dynamics. (3)

33 - ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked (5.15-end)

1. The first two phrases are ‘And nobody in all of Oz’, and ‘no wizard that there is or was’. Compare the vocal line in these two phrases. (2)

2. The next phrases is: ‘is ever gonna bring me down’. Name the interval between the singer’s notes on ‘bring’ and ‘me’. (1)

3. Name the instrumental technique used by the violinists throughout these three phrases. (1)

4. Name the technical device heard in the harmony throughout these same three phrases. (2)

5. Describe four ways in which the remainder of the extract makes an effective climax to the entire song. (4)