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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 composition written for eight instruments.






2. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






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






4. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






5. Group of singers in a chorus.






6. The movement of chords in succession.






7. Quick repetition of the same note or the rapid alternation between two notes.






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






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






10. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






11. Indicating speed.






12. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






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






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






15. 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.






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






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






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






19. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






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






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






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






23. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






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






25. A reprise.






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






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






28. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






29. 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.






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






31. The structure of a piece of music.






32. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






33. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






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






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






36. A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece.






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






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






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






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






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






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






43. 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.






44. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






45. A reprise.






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






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






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






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






50. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.







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