Batman

Question 1

Context of the work + composer

Answer 1

• Batman films based on the character Batman
• Batman Returns (1992) was directed by Tim Burton and is a sequel to Batman (1989)
• The score is provided by Danny Elfman (born 1953) who is best known for The Simpsons
• The score is popular and direct in style with vivid, grand orchestral effects
• Orchestration work was done by Steve Bartek, aided by Mark McKenzie
• Elfman uses a leitmotif system, with clearly defined themes for each character

Question 2

Describe the sonority

Answer 2

• Full symphony orchestra +:
  1. Organ
  2. Children’s choir
  3. Synthesiser
  4. Celeste
  5. Piano
  6. Accordion
  7. Large percussion section including xylophone, marimba, temple blocks, sleigh bells, tam-tam, cymbals

Colouristic effects include:

• Strings: tremolandi, pizzicato, glissandi
• Woodwind: flutter tounge (flute), wide vibrato (oboe)
• Brass: use of mutes, horn glissando

Question 3

Describe the texture

Answer 3

• Textures are generally homophonic
• chordal (birth of a penguin part 1, bar 14)
• Mel-Dom Hom (Penguin part 2, bar 27 onwards) [batman motif]
• layered ostinati (opening of Penguin part 2)
• Octaves (Penguin part 1, bars 22-25)
• high pitch string clusters (RAF from grace bars 7-8)
• Waltz rhythm with sustained octaves in bass (RAF, bars 20-25)

Question 4

Describe the Tempo, metres and rhythm

Answer 4

Tempo:

• Indicated by metronome marks
• Mots of the cues are moderate in pace, though ‘Batman vs Circus’ moves from slow to very fast

Metre:

• There are occasional changes of time signature e.g. one bar of 3/8 at bar 13 (penguin part 1) and the insertion of the waltz episode (bars 20-25) within quadruple time (RAF)

Rhythm:

• Pounding triplets in the Batman theme and its accompaniment (birth of penguin part II bar 25 onwards)
• Loose augmentations e.g. bar 65 (penguin part II)
• Almost constant quavers in Batman vs Circus

Question 5

Describe the Melody

Answer 5

Two most important leitmotifs are:

• Batman motif and it’s variants:

1. Birth of a Penguin part 1 = bar 1
2. Birth of a Penguin part 2 = bar 27

Motifs associated with the Penguin, first of which is a four note idea:

1. Birth of a Penguin Part I, bar 3
   - The second motif appears briefly in the opening cue, but can be heard most clearly in ‘RAF from grace)
   - Fragmented melodic lines occur in ‘Batman vs the circus’ (oboe at bars 57-58, fairground steam organ at bars bars 62-63)
   - The first of the Penguin motifs occurs as part of a quaver ‘moto perpetuo’ in ‘batman vs cicrus’ bars 26-27

Question 6

Describe the Harmony

Answer 6

• Functional language with frequent cadences
• Tonic pedals (Penguin part II, bars 1-8)
• Diminished triads (Part I, bar 34)
• Diminished (Part I, bar 37)
• Augmented triad (RAF bar 51)
• False relations (part II, bar 93-96)
• Added 6th chords (Batman vs Circus, bar 5)
• Whole tone chords (RAF, bars 50-52)

Question 7

Describe the structure and tonality

Answer 7

• All the prescribed cues are through-composed, drawing on the various leitmotif
• Keys are clearly defined by cadences and sometimes pedals
• RAF is the only cue to remain in a single tonality (C minor - C major)
• Key changes are often sudden, (Penguin Part I, moves from F minor (bars 3-6), A minor bars (7-10) and then to G minor (bars 11-13)
• Key changes also sometimes involve unrelated keys e.g. ‘Penguin part I’ bars 26-31 in D minor to bars 32-33 in F# minor and then bars 34-37 in G minor
• Sense of key is sometimes weakened by use of whole-tone structures e.g. bars 50-52 in ‘RAF from Grace’