Study guide
Elfman
Includes a detailed summary of the information needed for A2 exam. Background, Key points of interest, Structure, Melody, Tonality, Harmony, Texture, Sonority, Rhythm & Metre. (FYI Secured B Grade with these notes)
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Danny Elfman’s Batman Returns Extracts:All Extracts
BACKGROUND
- Elfman: Self taught composer and rock musician in band 'Oingo Boingo'
- Close working relationship with director Tim Burton
↪ Have often collaborated:
Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Planet of the Apes
- Scores much of his music around leitmotifs.
- Film is a sequel to 'Batman' (1989);
A darker adaptation of the superhero, with almost a dual personality- the potential to
be hero and villain.
POINTS OF INTEREST
- The relationship between the music and the on screen action
- How the music reflects 'darkness'
- The '(dark) Superhero' element
- The chaotic nature of the music
- The comic aspect of the music
- Leitmotifs
, (Main Theme) Birth of a Penguin Part 2
STRUCTURE
- All through composed pieces
- Direction of music reflects on screen action
Point Explanation Reference(s)
Through-composed
Bars 1-11, WOJCIECH KILAR-
- Dark screen, Michael DRACULA
Keaton’s name - Similar to Batman’s leitmotif.
appears Both 'dark' characters of the
- Coinciding with first night (bat/vampire.)
full appearance - Same melody and tonality with
Batman motif slight variation in rhythm,
consists of rising 4th and
descending semitone
Opening bars of Main theme:
- Gives a sense of
excitement & nervous
tension
, MELODY
Point Explanation Reference(s)
Melody dominated by Batman motif
(appropriate for main title sequence)
High melody at very start = a modified version of
Penguin motif
- Augmented in violins
‘Hint’ of Batman motif at Bars 5-6, before full motif
appears at Bar 9
Descending triplet phrase Descending triplet phrase:
- Based on an idea from the main theme of - Based on an idea
from the main
theme of first
Batman film
Batman motif heard in rhythmic diminution
Motif passed around different orchestral sections
(Bars 27-51)
2nd Batman motif appears in violins
(Bar 34)
- Legato in style contrasting with first motif
Elfman uses melody to force modulation to Bbmaj
- Holding augmented note (Bb)
- Uses this as a pivot note
Batman theme extended by 1 note
(Bars 22-23)
Female chorus singing descending pattern ‘Sigh motif’: Psycho, Herrmann (1960)
- ‘Sigh motif’
- Sequential pattern = descending semitones Edward Scissorhands, Elfman
- Achieves feeling of pity for poor infant (1990)
descending further into underground 'Sighing' choir idea explored
waterways
- Makes us feel sorry for The Penguin
Clever link between Penguin theme ‘sigh motif’ and
Batman theme
- Augmented 4ths (tritones) that feature
prominently in this theme
- Batman theme built upon augmented 4th
(tritone)
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