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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. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






2. Lowest female singing voice.






3. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






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






5. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






6. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played grandly.






7. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






8. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






9. Repetition of a single tone.






10. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






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






12. 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.






13. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






14. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






15. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






16. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






17. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






18. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






19. One of the two modes of the tonal system. The minor mode can be identified by the dark - melancholic mood.






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






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






22. Group of singers in a chorus.






23. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






24. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






25. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






26. Direction to performer to play a composition in a brisk - lively - and spirited manner.






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






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






29. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






30. A direction to play expressively.






31. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






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






33. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






34. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






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






36. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






37. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






38. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






39. 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.






40. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






41. To hold a tone or rest held beyond the written value at the discretion of the performer.






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






43. Music that is easy to listen to and understand.






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






45. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






46. A symbol indicating that the note is to be diminished by one semitone.






47. Lowest female singing voice.






48. A set of four musicians who perform a composition written for four parts.






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






50. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.