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 large group of instrumentalists playing together.






2. The movement of chords in succession.






3. To hold a tone or rest held beyond the written value at the discretion of the performer.






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






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






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






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






8. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






9. Repetition of a single tone.






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






11. Lowest female singing voice.






12. A successive transposition and repetition of a phrase at different pitches.






13. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






14. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






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






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






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






18. Successive notes of a key or mode either ascending or descending.






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






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






21. 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.






22. A set of four musicians who perform a composition written for four parts.






23. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






24. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






25. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






26. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






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






28. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






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






30. A string of chords played in succession.






31. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






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






33. 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.






34. A symbol indicating to play loud.






35. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






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






37. A short light musical drama.






38. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






39. A short light musical drama.






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






41. Passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.






42. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






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






44. Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.






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






46. Group of singers in a chorus.






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






48. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






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






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