Bernstein - Something's coming

Bernstein - Something's coming

1. Context

   • 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.

2. Texture

   • Builds up in layers of independent parts.

3. Tonality

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

4. Harmony

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

5. Melody

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

6. Instruments

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

7. Word-setting

   • Syllabic throughout
   • Word painting - "it may come cannon-balling down through the sky"

8. Tempo

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

9. Rhythm and Metre

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

10. Structure

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

11. Dynamics

    • Starts pianissimo
    • Forces at 'It may come cannon-building.'
    • Changes of dynamics create excitement and build tension.