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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 symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






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






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






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






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






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






8. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






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






10. One of the two modes of the tonal system. The minor mode can be identified by the dark - melancholic mood.






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






12. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






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






14. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






15. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






16. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






17. Pertains to tone or tones.






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






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






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






21. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






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






23. 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.






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






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






26. A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece.






27. A short or brief sonata.






28. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






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






30. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






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






32. A repeated phrase.






33. Indicating speed.






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






35. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






36. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






37. The principal note of a triad.






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






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






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






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






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






43. A group singing in unison.






44. A string of chords played in succession.






45. A person with notable technical skill in the performance of music.






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






47. A person with notable technical skill in the performance of music.






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






49. A separate section of a larger composition.






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