 Two musical themes in Wicked run throughout the score . Although Schwartz rarely reuses motifs or melodies from earlier works , the first – Elphaba 's theme – came from The Survival of St. Joan , on which he worked as musical director . " I always liked this tune a lot and I never could figure out what to do with it , " he remarked in an interview in 2004 . The chord progression that he first penned in 1971 became a major theme of the show 's orchestration . By changing the instruments that carry the motif in each instance , Schwartz enables the same melody to convey different moods . In the overture , the tune is carried by the orchestra 's brass section , with heavy percussion . The result is , in Schwartz ' own words , " like a giant shadow terrorizing you " . When played by the piano with some electric bass in " As Long As You 're Mine " , however , the same chord progression becomes the basis for a romantic duet . And with new lyrics and an altered bridge , the theme forms the core of the song " No One Mourns the Wicked " and its reprises . 
