Test your basic knowledge |

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. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






2. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






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






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






5. A reprise.






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






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






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






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






10. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






11. A separate section of a larger composition.






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






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






14. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






15. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






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






17. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






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






19. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






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






21. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






22. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






23. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






24. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






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






26. A short or brief sonata.






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






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






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






30. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






31. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






32. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






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






34. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






35. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






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






37. Unmusical - without tone.






38. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






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






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






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






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






43. 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.






44. A group singing in unison.






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






46. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






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






48. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






49. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






50. A period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. This period signified the rebirth of music - art - and literature.