something's coming

Question	Answer
date	1957
background (3)	based on Romeo and Juliet character of Tony's first solo, establishing his optimistic character incorporates elements of latin american and jazz music
instrumentation (4)	solo tenor and full orchestra including: flute, bass, percussion and horns some players double-up on instruments harmonics on strings: "the air is humming" muted brass pizzicato strings
structure (5)	introduction sections: A - B - B1 - A1 two main sections each with a varied repeat outro linking to the change of scene ends unresolved on a flattened 7th (C natural), like Tony's future
harmony and tonality (6)	in D with two contrasting sections in C neapolitan chord in first inv. in bar 95 jazz based harmony: frequent 7th chords and other added note chords bi-tonal sections tritone used: unifying feature throughout West Side Story, unusual chromatic (bars 77-81)
rhythm, metre and tempo (4)	metre changes between 3/4 and 2/4 changes of metre, fast tempo and frequent syncopation → feeling of excitement and anticipation cross rhythms: (on-beat bass part with off-beat chords) and driving rhythms push ryhthms anticipating the beat
melody (5)	almost entirely syllabic word painting (e.g. cannon-balling down through the sky) use of tritone in melody line higher tessiture in 2nd section than 1st melodic riffs used
texture	homophonic

Resource summary

	Created by jenny sclater over 7 years ago