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






2. To hold a tone or rest held beyond the written value at the discretion of the performer.






3. A short light musical drama.






4. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






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






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






7. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






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






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






10. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






11. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






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






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






14. Unmusical - without tone.






15. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






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






17. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






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






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






20. Closing section of a movement.






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






22. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






23. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






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






25. Suite of Baroque dances.






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






27. Two notes that differ in name only. The notes occupy the same position.For example: C sharp and D flat.






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






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






30. The first violin in an orchestra.






31. A direction to play lively and fast.






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






33. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






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






35. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






36. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






42. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






43. Lowest female singing voice.






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






45. A separate section of a larger composition.






46. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






47. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






48. A sequence of chords that brings an end to a phrase - either in the middle or the end of a composition.






49. The highest female voice.






50. The movement of chords in succession.