Somethings Coming- L.Bernstein (1957)

INTRO - A - B - B1 - A1 - OUTRO

(MIRRORED STRUCTURE)

1. Opening- quiet, syncopated

2. A THEME- loud, strident

3. B THEME- lyrical, slow moving.

Bernstein uses these three themes but varies them with lyrics and metre.

MAINLY IN D MAJOR

At the end of section A, it modulates to C MAJOR

Switches between these two keys througout and there are hints of bi-tonality.

Use of the TRITONE INTERVAL (augmented 4th) acts as a unifying feature throughout the musical and is sometimes call 'diabulus in musica' as it is foreboding.

Harmony is jazz influenced:

• Frequent 7th chords
• Other added note chords

SOLO TENOR VOICE ACCOMPANIED BY A LARGE ORCHESTRA 

So they don't overpower the soloist the orchestra play with: 

• Quiet dynamics
• Soft timbres
• A homophonic texture. 

DECLAMENTORY- 'It may come cannon-balling' (like its being said)

SYLLABIC- 'its only just out of reach'

LYIRICAL PHRASING- 'The air is humming' (also violins play tremolo, represents humming)

The song is mostly syllabic.

RHYTHM:

-Accompaniment is made up of off-beat chords and an on-beat bass part, this creates a cross rhythm.

-Syncopation is frequently used, maintains excitement.

TEMPO:

-Fast, also maintains excitement.

METRE:

Changes between 2/4 and 3/4. 

Texture is homophonic.

3 parts: 

1. Repeated opening riff

2. Short, syncopated chords

3. Fast, um-cha accompaniment

1920's

-Musical: A play where the words are sung instead of played.

-Popular version of an opera.

-Songs linked by acted scenes.

-Some composers drew on the rhyths of 20th C. jazz and classical music.