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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. A repeated phrase.






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






3. 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.






4. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






5. Suite of Baroque dances.






6. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






7. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






8. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






9. A separate section of a larger composition.






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






11. Where the musical themes and melodies are developed - written in sonata form.






12. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






13. Sliding between two notes.






14. 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.






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






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






17. The unit of musical rhythm.






18. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






19. 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.






20. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






21. The principal note of a triad.






22. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






23. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






24. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






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






26. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






27. To shift to another key.






28. The structure of a piece of music.






29. Repetition of a single tone.






30. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






31. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






32. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions.






33. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






34. Unmusical - without tone.






35. Closing section of a movement.






36. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






37. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






38. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






39. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






40. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






41. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






42. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played very slow and serious.






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






44. A string of chords played in succession.






45. Passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.






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






47. A canon where the melody is sung in two or more voices. After the first voice begins - the next voice starts singing after a couple of measures are played in the preceding voice. All parts repeat continuously.






48. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






49. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






50. A group singing in unison.