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






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






3. A short or brief sonata.






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






5. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






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






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






8. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






9. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.






10. Repetition of a single tone.






11. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






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






13. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






14. Unmusical - without tone.






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






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






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






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






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






20. A string of chords played in succession.






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






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






23. Convenient method of numbering a composer's works where a number follows the word 'opus'.For example - Opus 28 - No. 4.






24. A separate section of a larger composition.






25. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






26. A canon where the melody is sung in two or more voices. After the first voice begins - the next voice starts singing after a couple of measures are played in the preceding voice. All parts repeat continuously.






27. A repeated phrase.






28. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






29. Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.






30. 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.






31. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






32. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played very slow and serious.






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






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






35. The unit of musical rhythm.






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






37. 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.






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






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






40. Sliding between two notes.






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






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






43. The structure of a piece of music.






44. 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.






45. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






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






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






48. 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.






49. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






50. A dirge - hymn - or musical service for the repose of the dead.