Singing Actor Song Analysis Worksheet

Song Title: Dust and Ashes

Show: Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Composer(s)/ Lyricist(s): Dave Malloy

Show Premiere Date: 2012

Character’s Name: Pierre Original Actor: Josh Groban

Synopsis of Show:

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Answers to the following questions should be supported with specific references to and
examples from the score or libretto of the complete show:

1.) Identify the general musical style of the song? (Golden Age, Operetta,
Contemporary, Pop, Country, etc.)
Contemporary

2.) Define the particular situation (scene synopsis) in which the song is based?

3.) Describe (in detail) the character who sings the song:
Dear
Kind
Smart
Eccentric
Warm Hearted
Generous
Avid reader
Sad
Drinks too much
Sits at home while his friends fight and bleed
Old and unhappily married
Charming but I have no sex
Still wants to do something with his life
4.) What is the context of the song? At what point in the show does this song take
place?
This song takes place in the 1st act after a part. I am drinking too much at a party and
Dolokhov flirts with my wife too much, so I get angry and challenge him to a duel. I win
the duel even after intentionally leaving myself wide open.

5.) To whom is the character speaking, and why?

I am talking to God and the world because I have no one else who can answer my
questions.

6.) What is the character’s objective? What is happening in the song? (i.e. Are you
looking for love? Turning over a new leaf? Discovering something? Saying goodbye? etc)

7.) What do you want from the other person? What would you like him or her to do,
say, or feel? (Use phrases like “I want to lift her up,” “I want to crawl inside his skin,”
and “I want to intimidate him so he’ll never do it again”.)

8.) What are the character’s obstacles? (i.e What is standing in the way, or keeping the
character from completing his/her objective?)

9.) What purpose does this song serve in the dramatic structure of the show as a
whole?

10.) In what musical form is the song written? (AABA, ABAB, etc.)

11. What category would best describe lyrics of the song?

(Circle One: Subjective Objective Instructional Narrative Defiant List Other)

12. Type the lyrics of the song in the first column. Types the subtext (your own
paraphrase of the actual text) in the middle column, and add action verbs that
describe your intention and delivery of the lyrics in the third column.
(Label verse, chorus, etc: Verse, A, etc.)

Lyric Subtext Action (Verb)