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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 short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






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






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






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






5. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






14. Pertains to tone or tones.






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






16. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






17. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






18. The structure of a piece of music.






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






20. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






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






22. The interval between two notes. Two whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






23. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






24. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






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






26. 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.






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






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






29. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






30. The distance in pitch between two notes.






31. A symbol indicating that the note is to be diminished by one semitone.






32. 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.






33. The movement of chords in succession.






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






35. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






36. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






37. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






38. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






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






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






41. To shift to another key.






42. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






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






44. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






45. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






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






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






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






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






50. A composition written for nine instruments.