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






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






3. A separate section of a larger composition.






4. The structure of a piece of music.






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






6. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






7. 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.






8. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






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






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






11. A composition written for nine instruments.






12. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






13. A group singing in unison.






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






15. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






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






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






18. A string of chords played in succession.






19. A piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists.






20. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






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






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






23. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






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






25. The first violin in an orchestra.






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






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






28. 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.






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






30. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






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






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






33. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






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






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






36. Sliding between two notes.






37. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






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






39. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






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






41. Group of singers in a chorus.






42. A group singing in unison.






43. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






44. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






45. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






46. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






47. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






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






49. A direction to play lively and fast.






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