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Danny Elfman - Batman Returns (Harmony & Tonality (Birth of a Penguin…
Danny Elfman - Batman Returns
Harmony & Tonality
Birth of a Penguin Part 2
- Begins Dm to pedal --> Bbm w/ ton pedal then
ff
Cmaj chord and key sig change for title on screen
key sig remains but tonality changes, cue ends open chord of C# and G#
Opens w/ subdom pedal in Fm in Pipe Organ leading to plagal cadence; use of dom7ths, tone cluster and false relation (father first sees child) --> dark tone
Batman Versus the Circus
- Starts Bm w/ ton pedal; whole tone scale in harp, return in harp gliss later; dim7 and tritone --> chaos; ends with single low E w/ no harmony
Birth of a Penguin Part 1
- minor keys throughout, start with Fm; tertiary modulation to Am
The Rise and Fall from Grace
- Begins Cm and remains w/ some chromaticism ends with triumphant Cmaj chord; cluster chords - undermine Cm but never displace, open 5th and aug chords
Planet of the Apes - generally atonal, motif built on all 12 notes of chromatic scale suggests serialism but piece is
not
serial in tonality, mostly dissonant harmony or bare 8ves, semitone interval acts as unifying idea throughout cue
Star Wars - Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner: A New Hope - dissonance, diminished at times - creates eerie atmosphere
Star Wars - Imperial March: The Empire Strikes Back - fully outlined chords, root 3rd 5th
The Hologram/Binary Sunset & Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn about the Force: A New Hope - both major and minor tonalities, switch between
Melody
Birth of a Penguin Part 2
- dominated by Batman motif, 2nd additional idea heard 55 is a sighing idea, high opening melody is modified Penguin, later Batman heard in rhythmic diminution and later heard contrasting legato-style
Batman Versus the Circus
- Batman and Circus motif --> development and modification e.g. augmentation
Opens with Batman then Penguin - P appears many times throughout cue / Trumpet idea at bar 34 is another important idea
The Rise and Fall from Grace
- 2 versions of Penguin, developed/modified, desc lower string imitates Max and Penguin walking downstairs
Birth of a Penguin Part 1
- use of leitmotifs - build into longer melodic structures through repetition, sequence and development
Planet of the Apes - short, fragmentary ideas, opening motif comprises 5 notes (rising semitone and leap), second motif derived from main theme of film (wide leaps and semitones)
Main Title: A New Hope - passing of melodic ideas around instruments - strings and brass
Rhythm & Metre
Birth of a Penguin Part 2
- starts 130bpm - movement and energy; augmentation and diminution; 4/4 throughout except one bar 5/4 in lead up to Cmaj chord for title
Batman Versus the Circus
- slow tempo increases rapidly at 6 and faster at 10, begins 4/4 but shifts throughout, cross-rhythms and rhythmic displacement, sextuplet
Rhythmic augmentation e.g. of Penguin theme at 14-17
The Rise and Fall from Grace
- begins 4/4 but changes e.g. waltz; augmentation; flurry imitates Oswald trying to grab fish
Birth of a Penguin Part 1
- frequent changes of metre - begins 3/2 then soon 4/4 and a later 3/8 bar
Planet of the Apes - relentless drive of quaver/semiquavers rhythms, short rhythmic interjections, ostinato patterns
Planet of the Apes - cross-rhythm conga drum at 16, use of syncopation, septuplets against triplets, quavers and semiquavers
Main Title: A New Hope - use of quaver/semiquaver in strings / Imperial March: The Empire Strikes Back - strong sense of pulse
Structure & Form
Batman Versus the Circus
- through-composed w/ Psycho reference and Circus motif
The Rise and Fall from Grace
- through-composed w/ fanfare-like end
Birth of a Penguin Part 2
- through-composed
Birth of a Penguin Part 1
- through-composed w/ opening pedal and Batman theme identified
Planet of the Apes - through-composed, repetition and development of short motifs that unify the score
Repeated motifs e.g. Vader (Imperial March: The Empire Strikes Back) and Luke (The Hologram/Binary Sunset: A New Hope)
Texture
Batman Versus the Circus
- made up of layers of ostinato and motifs, often polyphonic; begins with build up from monophonic pedal
The Rise and Fall from Grace
- begins thin, delicate pizz then aggressive high arco; countermelodies
Birth of a Penguin Part 2
- varies: ostinati, pedals, 8ves, Batman motif passed around different instruments and layers of texture
Birth of a Penguin Part 1
- constantly changing e.g. 8ves, monophony, pedals
Planet of the Apes - layers of ostinato, sometimes antiphonal but mostly chaotic polyphony but opens homophonic/rhythmically followed by heterophony
Star Wars - frequent Mel dom hom
General Context
He learnt his craft through watching films and is best known for his collaborations with Tim Burton - who directed
Batman Returns
(1992)
His work often makes use of leitmotif. This form of thematic development shows his influence from composers like Hermann (Psycho, 1960)
Danny Elfman (born 1953) is an American self-taught composer born in Los Angeles.
Elfman's film music is often characterised by dark orchestral scores which often use minor keys. Melodies tend to be in the middle of the texture and are often played by brass, woodwind or the lower range of the strings.
Jerry Goldsmith - American film and tv composer - Planet of the Apes, 1960s modernist film music (atonal; electronic ins; fragmented mel; ost patterns; driving rhythms; large orch w/ ethnic; avant-garde; semitone unifying idea; short mortifs etc)
John Williams - Star Wars
Instrumentation
Birth of Penguin Part 2
- Full orch + e.g. synth choir; opening layers of ostinato leading to Batman theme - heard predominantly in brass
Birth of a Penguin Part 1
- Full orchestra + pipe organ, celesta, tam-tam, cymbals etc. Pipe organ - intro pedal - ominous, dark tone / Glissandi, muted brass, pizz strings, tremolando bowing / Wordless choir 'ah' 'la' 'ooh'
Batman Versus the Circus
- Full orch + increased percussion e.g. xylophone, temple blocks, snare etc.
extreme techniques e.g. extreme trumpet lip trill; circus idea --> 'oom-pah' ostinato accomp --> circus motif; high violin gliss --> Pyscho
The Rise and Fall from Grace
- Full orch; gliss, tremolando, low ranges, flute trills, trumpet fanfare effect at the end
Planet of the Apes - large symphony orch + unconventional ethnic instruments e.g. Ram's Horn, Tibetan horn - used to suggest primitive/other-worldly aspects of the apes / Electric harp and electric bass clarinet - strings play relatively minor role
Planet of the Apes - wooden horn mutes, violin harmonics, trumpet plunger mutes, trombone flutter-tonguing, dynamics only go below f in second motif
Star Wars - frequent use of full orchestra but most often brass and strings / Cantina Band: A New Hope - more unusual - Jazz band and steel pan drums / Large dynamic range - The Hologram/Binary Sunset: A New Hope / Use of real choir - Duel of the Fates: The Phantom Menace
On-Screen Action
Birth of a Penguin Part 1
- opening of the film - Cobblepot new baby but something is wrong - follows decision to abandon and journey to dump cradle in river leading to sewers
Birth of a Penguin Part 2
- baby's journey through sewers - end of cue, baby found by penguins
The Rise and Fall from Grace
- Max Schreck visits Penguin and his circus friends, lures him downstairs w/ fish, where greeted by election supporters
Batman Versus the Circus
- two scenes - carnival atmosphere for Penguin's maniacal circus gang - Circus gang causing chaos on streets of Gotham