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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 piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






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






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






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






5. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






6. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






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






8. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






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






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






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






12. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






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






14. 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.






15. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






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






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






18. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






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






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






21. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






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






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






24. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






25. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






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






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






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






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






30. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






31. A symbol indicating to play loud.






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






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






34. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






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






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






37. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






38. A string of chords played in succession.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






46. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






47. A lighthearted piece - written in several movements - usually as background music for a social function.






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






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






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