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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 direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






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






3. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






4. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






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






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






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






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






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






10. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






11. A reprise.






12. Suite of Baroque dances.






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






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






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






16. The structure of a piece of music.






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






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






19. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






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






21. 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.






22. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






23. The intonation - pitch - and modulation of a composition expressing the meaning - feeling - or attitude of the music.






24. The unit of musical rhythm.






25. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






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






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






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






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






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






31. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






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






33. Where the musical themes and melodies are developed - written in sonata form.






34. A separate section of a larger composition.






35. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






36. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






37. 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.






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






39. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






40. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






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






42. 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.






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






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






45. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






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






47. The first violin in an orchestra.






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






49. Sliding between two notes.






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