Bernstein - Something's Coming

From the musical West Side Story, set in New York. Third song in the show. Solo number sung by lead character Tony. He is optimistic about a better, gang-free future. Plot based on Romeo and Juliet. Written in 1958.

Builds up in layers of independent parts.

Major throughout. Uses bitonality in places. Begins in D major - modulates to C major.

Accompaniment uses jazz based harmony. Blue notes and dissonances. Tritone - creates tension.

Short syncopated riffs. Blue notes and tritones used. Section B - lyrical legato phrases. 'Around the corner'. 8 bar phrasing. Cross rhythms. Ends on the blue note. Creating suspense. Unresolved. 'Something's coming' - always accented and on the beat to drive the message of the song.

Solo singer - tenor voice.
Medium sized orchestra - 5 woodwind players, 2 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, violins, cellos, double basses, drum kit, percussion, piano, guitar.

Syllabic throughout. Word painting - "it may came cannon-balling down through the sky"

Fast, allegro. On in a bar feel. Stays the same throughout.

Syncopation. Cross rhythms and push rhythms. Changes between 3/4 and 2/4 time signatures.

Unconventional song structure. Intro - A - B - B1 - A1 - Outro.

Starts pianissimo. Forte at 'it may come cannon-balling.' Changes of dynamics create excitement and build tension.

Syncopated rhythm, short riff.
Jazz based harmony.
'Um-pah' style accompaniment.

Word painting. Off beat accents. Change of metre.

Cross rhythms. Longer, legato phrase.