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






2. 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.






3. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






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






5. A short piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






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






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






8. Quick repetition of the same note or the rapid alternation between two notes.






9. Originally an improvised cadence by a soloist. Later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer.






10. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






11. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






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






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






14. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






15. A symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone.






16. Pertaining to the fugue - the overlapping of the same theme or motif by two or more voices a few beats apart.






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






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






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






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






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






22. Written for 2 to 10 solo parts featuring one instrument to a part. Each part bears the same importance.






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






24. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






25. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






26. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






27. The movement of chords in succession.






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






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






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






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






32. A short light musical drama.






33. The major and minor keys that share the same notes in that key.For example: A minor shares the same note as C major.






34. 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.






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






36. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






37. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






38. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






39. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






40. The distance in pitch between two notes.






41. Closing section of a movement.






42. Pertains to tone or tones.






43. Repetition of a single tone.






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






45. Lowest female singing voice.






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






47. A repeated phrase.






48. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






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






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