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






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






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






4. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






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






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






7. 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.






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






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






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






11. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






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






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






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






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






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






17. The interval between two notes. Two whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






18. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






19. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






20. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






21. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






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






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






24. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






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






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






27. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






28. A group singing in unison.






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






30. A lighthearted piece - written in several movements - usually as background music for a social function.






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






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






33. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






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






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






36. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






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






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






39. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






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






41. A direction to play lively and fast.






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






43. 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.






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






45. Sliding between two notes.






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






47. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






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






49. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






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