defying gravity

• main key of the piece is D major
• verse-chorus structure
• texture = melody dominated homophony
• melody is mainly conjunct and syllabic
• word painting is used in the melody (e.g. leap)
• use of syncopation in bars 67-70
• use of dotted rhythms and triplets
• crescendo and diminuendo are used to create tension
• ending is polyphonic
• vocal duet for two female sopranos, large range of almost 2 octaves
• un-related chords at the beginning and at bar 115
• starts in sforzando, which is loud and sudden
• frequent key changes and the beginning is ambiguous