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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 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.






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






3. A composition written for eight instruments.






4. A successive transposition and repetition of a phrase at different pitches.






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






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






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






8. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






9. A piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists.






10. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






11. A short light musical drama.






12. 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.






13. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






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






15. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






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






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






18. A symbol indicating to play loud.






19. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






20. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






21. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






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






23. The distance in pitch between two notes.






24. A short or brief sonata.






25. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






26. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






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






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






29. 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.






30. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






31. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






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






33. A dirge - hymn - or musical service for the repose of the dead.






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






35. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






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






37. 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.






38. 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.






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






40. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






41. A dirge - hymn - or musical service for the repose of the dead.






42. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






43. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






44. 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.






45. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






46. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






47. The distance in pitch between two notes.






48. A direction to play lively and fast.






49. 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.






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