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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. To shift to another key.






2. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






3. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






4. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






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






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






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






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






9. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






10. A reprise.






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






12. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






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






14. A direction to play expressively.






15. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






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






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






18. The movement of chords in succession.






19. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






20. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






21. Indicating speed.






22. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






34. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played grandly.






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






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






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






38. 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.






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






40. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






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






42. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






43. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






44. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






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






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






47. Pertains to tone or tones.






48. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






49. A symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone.






50. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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