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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






2. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






3. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






4. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






5. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






6. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






7. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






8. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






9. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






10. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






11. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






12. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






13. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






14. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






15. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






16. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






17. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






18. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






19. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






20. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






21. A short light musical drama.






22. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






23. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






24. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






25. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






26. Two notes that differ in name only. The notes occupy the same position.For example: C sharp and D flat.






27. A period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. This period signified the rebirth of music - art - and literature.






28. The range of an instrumental or a vocal part.






29. Music composed such that each note is used the same number of times.






30. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






31. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






32. The highest female voice.






33. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






34. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






35. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






36. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






37. The interval between two notes. Two whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






38. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






39. Group of singers in a chorus.






40. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






41. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






42. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






43. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






44. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






45. The first violin in an orchestra.






46. Successive notes of a key or mode either ascending or descending.






47. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.






48. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






49. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






50. Three note chords consisting of a root - third - and fifth.