What are the key features of Bernard Herrmann's cues from Psycho?
Bernard Herrmann: eight cues from Psycho (A-level only): Prelude, The City, Marion, The Murder (Shower Scene), The Toys, The Cellar, Discovery, Finale. The string-only score, ostinato, dissonance and the techniques of suspense scoring.
A focused answer on the Edexcel A-Level Music set work (A-level only), Bernard Herrmann's cues from Psycho. Covers the string-only orchestra, ostinato, dissonance and tone clusters, the shrieking shower-scene strings, and the suspense-scoring techniques the appraising exam rewards.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
This is the third Music for Film set work, studied at A-level only: eight cues from Bernard Herrmann's score to Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). You must know its famous string-only orchestration, its use of ostinato, dissonance and tone clusters, the shrieking strings of the shower-scene murder, and the suspense-scoring techniques it pioneered.
Context and the string-only orchestra
Building suspense: ostinato, dissonance and rhythm
The shower scene
Texture, melody and harmony
How Edexcel examines this
This set work is examined with describe/evaluate questions on the string-only orchestration, the ostinati, dissonance and tone clusters, the shower-scene techniques, and how they build suspense, supported by the anthology. It is a strong single set-work essay subject and a vivid comparison with the full-orchestra, leitmotif-driven Elfman and the lyrical Portman. The mark scheme rewards the terms string orchestra, ostinato, dissonance, tone cluster, glissando, tremolando, detache, chromatic, located in the cues and tied to suspense.
Try this
Q1. What is unusual about the orchestration of Psycho? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. It is scored for a string orchestra only, with no brass, woodwind or percussion.
Q2. Describe two techniques Herrmann uses in the shower-scene cue. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Shrieking high violins with downward glissandi, and harsh detache (stabbing) bowing of repeated dissonant figures.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Edexcel 20198 marksDescribe how Herrmann creates tension in the cues from Psycho. (Component 3, Section A, with anthology)Show worked answer →
A Section A question on suspense scoring.
Devices. A string-only orchestra; relentless ostinati and repeated rhythmic figures; dissonance, tone clusters and chromaticism; sudden dynamic contrasts; tremolando and high tessitura. The famous shower-scene cue uses shrieking high violins with downward glissandi, played with savage detache bowing.
Effect. These devices create unease, dread and shock; the string-only palette unifies the score and lends a cold, monochrome quality. Locate examples.
Markers reward the terms string orchestra, ostinato, dissonance, tone cluster, tremolando, glissando, chromatic, located in the cues, not "scary music".
Edexcel 202220 marksEvaluate how Herrmann uses the string orchestra and the musical elements to build suspense across the cues from Psycho. (Component 3, Section B, single set-work essay; rescoped to the schema cap)Show worked answer →
The single set-work evaluation (the live paper tariffs this at 30; rescoped here to the schema cap of 20). Marked on depth, context and evaluation.
Orchestration. The deliberate choice of strings only (no brass, woodwind or percussion) gives a cold, unified, monochrome sound that Herrmann likened to black and white film.
Elements. Ostinati and repeated figures build relentless momentum; dissonance, tone clusters and chromaticism create dread; the shower-scene cue uses shrieking high glissandi for shock; dynamic and textural contrasts pace the tension.
Context. A 1960 Hitchcock thriller; the score revolutionised suspense scoring. The top band evaluates how the string-only palette and the elements build suspense, with located detail, rather than narrating the plot.
Related dot points
- Area of Study 3 Music for Film: the three set works (Elfman's Batman Returns, Portman's The Duchess, Herrmann's Psycho), and the techniques of film scoring (leitmotif, underscore, mickey-mousing, diegetic and non-diegetic music).
An overview of Area of Study 3 (Music for Film) for Edexcel A-Level Music. Introduces the three set works by Elfman, Portman and Herrmann and the techniques of film scoring, leitmotif, underscore, mickey-mousing, and diegetic versus non-diegetic music, that the appraising exam rewards.
- Danny Elfman: four cues from Batman Returns (Main theme / Birth of a Penguin Part II, Birth of a Penguin Part I, Rise and Fall from Grace, Batman vs the Circus). Gothic orchestral scoring with choir, leitmotifs, and the techniques of film underscore.
A focused answer on the Edexcel A-Level Music set work, Danny Elfman's four cues from Batman Returns. Covers the gothic orchestral and choral scoring, the leitmotifs for Batman and the villains, the orchestration and harmony, and the film-scoring techniques the appraising exam rewards.
- Rachel Portman: four cues from The Duchess (The Duchess and End Titles, Mistake of Your Life, Six Years Later, Never See Your Children Again). Lyrical period-flavoured orchestral underscore, melody, harmony and the techniques of film scoring.
A focused answer on the Edexcel A-Level Music set work, Rachel Portman's four cues from The Duchess. Covers the lyrical, period-flavoured orchestral underscore, the melodic and harmonic language, the orchestration, and the film-scoring techniques the appraising exam rewards.
- The musical elements (melody, harmony, tonality, texture, structure, rhythm, metre, tempo, dynamics, articulation, instrumentation and technology) and the analytical vocabulary the Component 3 appraising paper rewards across all six areas of study.
A focused answer on the musical elements that underpin every Edexcel A-Level Music appraising answer. Covers melody, harmony, tonality, texture, structure, rhythm, metre, dynamics, articulation, instrumentation and technology, with the precise vocabulary and bar-referencing the Component 3 exam rewards.
- Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, movements 1 and 2 (movement 2 at A-level only). The Romantic programme symphony, the idee fixe, the expanded orchestra and orchestration, sonata form with a slow introduction, and the waltz movement.
A focused answer on the Edexcel A-Level Music set work, movements 1 and 2 of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Covers the Romantic programme symphony, the idee fixe, the expanded orchestra and orchestration, sonata form with a slow introduction, the waltz, and the features the appraising exam rewards.
Sources & how we know this
- Pearson Edexcel A-Level Music (9MU0) specification (Issue 7) — Pearson Edexcel (2016)
- Pearson set work support guide: Bernard Herrmann, Psycho — Pearson Edexcel (2016)