Analysis of Bohemian Rhapsody

Analysis
- Begins with an a acapella four-part harmony of all band members – monophonic
- Time is 2/4
- Key is Bflat major
- (0:15) Grand piano enters
- Homophonic texture – Lead vocals are always most prominent and are backed by piano and backing vocals

- 2 bar piano interlude (cross-hand playing by Freddie Mercury)
- Introduction of bass guitar, long full notes (2 bars in length)
- Texture is homophonic – Lead vocals are main melody backed by piano and bass guitar
- (2:19) introduction of guitar – dynamically piece increases in volume and becomes more intense
- (2:33) crescendo to guitar solo, which takes over as main melody for remainder of section
- Key change from bflat major to A major
- Time signature changes to 4/4
- Tempo changes – faster
- Dynamics are constantly changing from bar to bar – one bar may be only Freddie Mercury singing (monophonic), the next may have an entire choir of voices as well as crashing drums and guitar (homophonic)
- Heavy usage of staccato and accents
- (4:02) Crescendo building up to next section
- Abrupt tempo change – faster
- Heavy distortion driven guitar
- Texture is homophonic – Guitar solo and vocals are alternating the main melody while the rest of the instrumentation is used as backing
- Guitar ascends to a resonant crescendo
- Three ascending guitar phrases (octaves apart) which make up one heavy chord (bflat seven) ultimately creating the crescendo
- Complex timbre – Brian May layers the guitars to give a trumpet effect
- Although this section is different from the introduction it shares some distinct qualities and is thus the second A section
- Mood is the same as the first A section
- Key change back to bflat major
- (5:06-5:12) decrescendo
- Slowly song decrescendo’s until nothing is heard but the soft sound of a gong which fades away