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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. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






2. 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.






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






4. A string of chords played in succession.






5. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






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






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






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






9. A separate section of a larger composition.






10. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






11. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






12. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






13. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






14. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






15. Group of singers in a chorus.






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






17. A composition written for nine instruments.






18. Unmusical - without tone.






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






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






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






22. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






23. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






24. A sequence of chords that brings an end to a phrase - either in the middle or the end of a composition.






25. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






26. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






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






28. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






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






30. A line in a contrapuntal work performed by an individual voice or instrument.






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






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






33. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






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






35. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






36. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






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






38. The distance in pitch between two notes.






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






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






41. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






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






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






44. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






45. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






46. Suite of Baroque dances.






47. The principal note of a triad.






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






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






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