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






2. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






3. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






4. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






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






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






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






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






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






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






11. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






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






13. Group of singers in a chorus.






14. A short or brief sonata.






15. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






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






17. 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.






18. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






19. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






20. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






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






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






23. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






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






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






26. A symbol indicating to play loud.






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






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






29. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






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






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






32. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






33. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






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






35. Ability to determine the pitch of a note as it relates to the notes that precede and follow it.






36. The movement of chords in succession.






37. A string of chords played in succession.






38. 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.






39. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






40. 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.






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






42. Passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.






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






44. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






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






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






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






48. 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.






49. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






50. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.