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Introduction - from bar 1

Metre

The opening bars are marked colla voce. This means the band musicians could follow the vocal lead with each new performance and lead performer.

In the second half of the introduction the music is at andante tempo. Pauses are added in bar 29 to wait for the speaking interludes.

Instrumentation

The text is disrupted by stab chords played by the full band. Here the texture is just the voice and homophonic chords held by the band, known as melody-dominated homophony.

Tonality

The first three chords are D major, C# minor and C major. This means that the tonality is ambiguous, ie there is no clear sense of key.

Melody

Two leitmotifs are heard in bars 20 and 21, first in the bass and then on the synthesiser. These leitmotifs are repeated frequently. The leitmotif in bar 20 is used to represent Elphaba and is known as Elphaba’s theme.

Texture

A monophonic opening is written just for the solo voice. The listener hears melody-dominated homophony when the band enters.

Verse 1 - from bar 34

Instrumentation

The strings play with a tremolo effect to convey the mood of anticipation.

Harmony

The chords played are bare fifths, which denotes the opportunity for Elphaba to flee.

Melody

The melody opens with a repeat of Elphaba's leitmotif from bars 20 to 21. Only five different pitches are used at bar 32, again at 42 and again at 46.