A summary of the set works from Batman Returns (Birth of a Penguin Part 1, Birth of a Penguin Part 2, Batman Vs the Circus, Rise and Fall From Grace). Concise, bullet pointed lists that include all of the musical elements and context for each piece. Should be enough information for listening questi...
A Level Music - Pearson Edexcel
Set Works
Component 3 – Section A
Appraising (Areas of Study)
Batman Returns (1992)
Context: Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton based on
the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to Batman (1989). The music for both of these
films was composed by Danny Elfman.
Elfman often works on Tim Burton’s films and is known for his use of dark orchestration, minor keys
and extreme registers. A leitmotif system is used in this score, with clear themes for each
character.
General sonority points:
Full symphony orchestra with additional Large percussion section
instruments o Xylophone
Organ o Marimba
Children’s choir o Temple blocks
Synthesiser o Sleighbells
Celeste o Tam-tam
Piano o cymbals
Accordion
Birth of a Penguin Part 1
Context: Cobblepots have just given birth to a Music shifts in semitones b43
child but there is something wrong and they Dominant 7th chord b45 beats 1+2
decide to abandon it by dropping it into the Tonality:
sewers. F minor but seems like Bbminor
Sonority: A minor b7 – tertiary
typical film score instrumentation G minor b11
decorative celeste C minor b14
sleigh bells – set at Christmas D minor b26
Melody: D major b43
Batman motif seen throughout in Rhythm, metre, tempo:
varied forms – usually brass Constant change of time signatures
Penguin motif – usually in voices
Arpeggio ideas b42, b44 Father screams in b13
Contrary motion b18 Accent (baby catches cat) b22
Harmony: Structure:
Subdominant pedal b1+2 Through composed
Plagal cadence b2-3 Texture:
Major 7th chords b4 Low, thick textures to start
Cluster chords b7 Thins to strings at b7
False relation b13 Monophonic b22
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