| Description |
| On-screen: |
Main title, cast list, and wave effect |
| Description: |
A three-note motif accompanies the words "Mildred Pierce" (the Mildred Motto or Motive A); the second gesture is an ascending four-note pattern followed by a falling fourth (Motive B); the melody is given to strings over supporting brass harmonies, with a countermelody in the horns; this three-note motif recurs at the beginning of many of the phrases; it has a bold, heroic, but also lyrical tone; the wave effect continues |
| Music annotations: |
[m. 7] Horns / Hugo! Strong melodic line please!!; [m. 10] gliss; [m. 14] Kirkh bells; [m. 15] Hugo! By the way - whenever there is no wave effect indicated - use harps etc orchestrally - as you wish!! / fix; [m. 17] this bar as is!!; [m. 18] gliss; [m. 19] loco; [m. 20] gliss; [m. 21] soli / gliss |
| Film annotations: |
[m. 7] Mildred Pierce |
| Orchestration annotations: |
[m. 7] divisi + W.W. / W.W.? / T.C. / celli and piano?; [m. 10] add vibra; [m. 15] take cymbal out; [m. 18] timp |
| Analysis: |
The first phrase is solidly in Db major, while the second moves towards the dominant minor (ab minor); these form part of a larger AABA structure |
|
| Tags |
AABA structure | cast list | foreign key modulation | mickey-mousing | mode mixture | opening title sequence | optimistic | romantic | triumphant | water | wave
|
Media |
Previous
