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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 drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






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






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






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






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






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






7. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






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






9. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






10. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






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






12. A symbol indicating to play loud.






13. The movement of chords in succession.






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






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






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






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






18. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






19. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






20. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






21. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






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






23. The highest female voice.






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






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






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






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






28. 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.






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






30. Suite of Baroque dances.






31. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






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






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






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






35. The distance in pitch between two notes.






36. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






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






38. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






39. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






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






41. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






42. Closing section of a movement.






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






44. A direction to play lively and fast.






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






46. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






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






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






49. Pertains to tone or tones.






50. A string of chords played in succession.






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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