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






2. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






3. A repeated phrase.






4. Pertains to tone or tones.






5. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






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






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






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






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






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






11. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






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






13. To hold a tone or rest held beyond the written value at the discretion of the performer.






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






15. A short light musical drama.






16. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






17. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






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






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






20. A group singing in unison.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






29. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






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






31. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






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






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






34. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






35. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






36. Lowest female singing voice.






37. A group singing in unison.






38. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






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






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






41. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






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






43. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






44. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






45. The unit of musical rhythm.






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






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






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






49. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






50. Group of singers in a chorus.