AOS2 Something's Coming - Bernstein - 1958

Metre

• Intro and outro: 3/4  simple quadruple
• Section A: 2/4 - 3/4 B: 2/4

Rhythm

• Push rhythms and syncopation (melody entry = syncopated)
• Cross rhythms
• 24 sections - on beat bass, with off beat chords

Tempo

Very fast - 176 bmp

Dynamics

• Loud parts add significance to Tony's (male tenor) declarations
• Accented notes
• Intro and outro quiet

Accompaniment/Instrumentation

• Bass riff - bass plays 3 note ostinato until bar 20
• 30 piece ensemble
• Woodwind sustain inner harmonies moving in minums
• Orchestral riff
• Use of oom-cha style accompaniment

Texture

Mainly homophonic as is a song

Harmony and Tonality

• Starts and ends in D major with neoploitan chords and tritones
• Most of A and A1 in D major - features bitonailty of F sharp in C major
• Most of B and B1 in C major - use of blue notes due to a jazz influence

Melody

• Mainly syllabic
• Much of melody based on riffs
• Some sustained passages
• Word painting - may come cannonballing
• Melodic tritone

Form/Structure

Solo song - Intro - A - B - B1 - A1 - Outro (loose ternary)