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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that summaries and analyzes the song "Oklahoma" from the musical Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The writer discusses this song's harmony in detail and how it fits with the lyrics. (Only this one song, "Oklahoma," is discussed). Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khok.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
by). The signature song for this musical is the rousing song "Oklahoma," in which the entire cast joins in with protagonists Laurey and Curley in singing about Oklahoma becoming a
state (Musicals by). "Oklahoma" is written in the key of C major, which fits with its consonant, feel-good, proud tone. The form of the work is A-A-B, as the
first section repeats and then moves on to the rousing finale. It begins in C on a long sustained tone as the singers voice just the first syllable of "Oklahoma."
While they are holding this note, the music modulates to F and then back to C as the rest of the word is sung to descending tones. The rhythm is
brisk and the tone is bright, as the song captures the spirit of this frontier territory. The meter is officially in 4/4 time, but, in actual performance, a 2/2 time
signature would probably be more accurate as the pace of the song is energetic and dynamic. After the first two opening measures the harmony shifts to G7, but then
to G-diminished and then to G7sus before returning to G7 ("Oklahoma"). As this indicates, the harmony is definitively consonant and major in its orientation, but also extremely subtle and sophisticated
in the way that Rodgers modulates between related chords. This shown in subsequent measures as the harmony returns to the home key of C, but with the addition of the
9th ("Oklahoma"). As this indicates, Rodgers adeptly uses variations on the dominant harmony of C-major in order to keep the music interesting and subtly stress the visual images that
are invoked by the lyrics. For example, after using C9, he moves to F6 and then introduces a very brief use of a minor chord, Fm6. This minor chord corresponds
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