The Musical Wonders of Alan Menken Lauren Skipps

The Musical Wonders of Alan Menken Lauren Skipps Music 1010

Introduction �Who is Alan Menken? �He is a famous composer who has won many awards for his work �He is mostly known for his work with Disney

Biography � Alan was born on July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York � He earned a music degree from New York University � He partnered with Howard Ashman after their success together with the music of Little Shop of Horrors leading to them being picked up by Disney � He continues to compose for big companies not just Disney. � He currently lives in New York with his wife and two kids.

Composition History �I chose three songs that Alan composed. My attempt was to show his versatility �“The Tear Heals” From Tangled �“So Close” From Enchanted �“Main Titles” The Little Mermaid

The Tear Heals Composition History �From the 2010 Film, “Tangled” �is 7 minutes and 37 seconds long �Story behind the music is Flynn and Rapunzel’s Rescue and the defeat of the Mother Gothel �Alan had to “Popify” the music

The Tear Heals Composition History �Album released November 2010 �Was number 44 on the Billboard 200 chart �Uses a full symphony with a large range of instruments �First Disney CGI Movie

So Close Composition History �From The Movie, “Enchanted” �Differs from His Orchestra Favors in attempt to portray music of “Our World” �John Mclaughlin sings the lyrics written by Steven Schwartz

So Close Composition History �The Album was released November 20, 2007 by Walt Disney Records. �The song was nominated for an Academy Award in 2008 for Best Original Song. �The song is a 3 minute and 46 second piano ballad

Main Titles Composition History �From the film, “The Little Mermaid” �First Disney Film Alan scored � 1 minute and 46 seconds long �Album Released Nov 1989

Main Titles Composition History � 3 Academy Awards and Golden Globe Nominations won two from both. �Originally only hired for the songs of the show. �Song Shows his Use of Themes

Listening Guide The Tear Heals � 0: 00 Introduction: Allegro Tempo. Quadruple Meter, Compound Division. The rhythm is played by a marching drum and accented by the strings to give the image and timbre of a horse galloping � 0: 16 Theme A The brass is blared as the score turns into a triumphant timbre the trumpets and the horns echo in a conjunct melody. Strings play Romantic Theme � 0: 32 Theme B The Melody is cut off as the drums change the form. The tempo becomes grave and the timbre becomes sullen. The melody takes a dark texture played by the woodwinds � 1: 07 Theme B Variation A As the Horns break, the form reverts back to the sullen melody played by the violins painting a hopeless emotion. Grave tempo

Listening Guide The Tear Heals 1: 36 Theme B Variation B The variation is continued but the tempo begins to increase as well as the dynamic. Starting with the low bass it is deep and strong and takes over the melody as it begins to widen its range and move up the scale. 2: 06 Theme C The violin leads perfectly into a soft theme that has a hopeful timbre as more strings join in to strengthen the form. The tempo is andante. 2: 41 Climax A The Brass section as well as the rest of the strings join the high pitch violin and crescendo in a dramatic build up. Vivace Tempo 2: 54 Theme A Variation A The dissonance breaks and we are overpowered by the dynamic strength of the trumpets and the horns. They play the first triumphant theme. 3: 31 Theme C Variation A The timbre is sentimental. There is sadness felt when a flute carries a major tune.

Listening Guide The Tear Heals � 3: 52 Theme C Variation A The harp comes in playing the medieval romantic melody. It’s slow and soft plucking one note at a time. The melody is sweet. � 4: 27 Bridge Piano stops playing the melody and is replaced by Rapunzel singing her healing incantation. She sings softly keeping the dynamic. � 5: 01 Theme A Variation B The score gradually crescendos and this time the cellos lead the melody. The violins begin to harmonize widening the range and filling the space with hope and sound creating a light timbre. Disney Twinkle � 6: 20 Theme C Variation B This theme is always softer and slower so after being built up and proving love can overcome anything. � 7: 15 Coda won. The score creates a pleasant timbre as the heroes have

Listening Guide So Close � 0: 00 Intro The Disney Twinkle starts us off giving us a starry emotion of love. The piano begins the melody in an andante tempo and a moderate dynamic. � 0: 14 Verse 1 The piano continues a different melody and is accompanied by asimple percussion tap on the cymbals to give the rhythm a triple meter, simple division time signature. � 0: 45 Verse 2 The tempo has sped up and gradually the music is becoming stronger increasing our emotion. Same Form � 1: 22 Chorus The dynamics become stronger as the vocals get louder and more passionate. The melody form is the same as the verses just more instruments become present. � 1: 52 Bridge Climax As John holds out his last note the piano begins to dominate the melody and our attention. The dynamics build until the harp plays a major chord turning the score to magic.

Listening Guide So Close � 2: 25 Bridge The music decrescendos and we lose the trumpets, violins and strong percussion. � 2: 42 Chorus The harp strums a chord starting the chorus. The vocals are much stronger turning the music into a proclamation. The Tempo increases � 3: 11 Coda The harp strums again, the music stays soft but confirms our fears of the characters fate. The song still has a sweet melody but it is just that, nothing more. The lyrics leave us with “So close but still so far”. � 3: 46 Ends The musical number ends

Listening Guide Main Titles � 0: 00 Introduction Theme A The music starts with chimes. We then hear a triad play over and over. The melody begins and is played by a flute. � 0: 22 Theme The melody changes, though the form is still the same. The range becomes wider and deeper. Cellos play the melody and violins play a pleasant harmony. � 0: 48 Theme A Variation A stronger Symbols crash � 1: 05 The dynamics become Climax Violins play the form and cymbals crash on every 4 beat (Simple Quadruple Meter. )

Listening Guide Main Titles � 1: 05 Climax Violins play the form and cymbals crash on every 4 beat (Simple Quadruple Meter. ) � 1: 23 Coda The score has all instruments playing loud and strong to top off the climax � 1: 46 Ends The Score Ends

Conclusion �I never would have known how much Alan Menken contributed to Disney movies that I love and sing to every day. �My appreciation for the musical scores increased as well. �All the scores that go into the movie make all the moments that much better. �Walking into Disneyland none of the music has words. That’s because we don’t connect with the lyrics as much as the music itself

Bibliography �Listen to the Music, Aaron Copeland 2014 �The Music behind the Magic Steve Daly www. ew. com/ew/article/0, , 304630, 00 c 1994 �"Disney: Notes on the end of the Disney Renaissance” decentfilms. com c 2008 �http: //app. rhapsody. com/artist/variousartists/album/enchanted/track/so-close �insidemovies. ew. com/2010/11/24/alanmenken-tangled/ c 2010 �www. Alan. Menken. com c 2010 �www. allmusic. com/artist/alan-menken

Picture References �http: //www. hollywoodreporter. com/sites/d efault/files/2011/10/menken_a. jpg �http: //img 4. wikia. nocookie. net/__cb 2014 0930003923/disney/images/9/94/Disney _-_Logo. png �http: //rise-of-the-brave-tangleddragons. wikia. com/wiki/File: Tangled. Movie-Poster. jpg �http: //collider. com/enchanted-2 -news/ �http: //www. imdb. com/title/tt 0097757/ �Microsoft Clip. Art