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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. The movement of chords in succession.






2. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






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






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






5. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






6. A symbol indicating to play loud.






7. A composition written for nine instruments.






8. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






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






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






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






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






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






14. 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.






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






16. A line in a contrapuntal work performed by an individual voice or instrument.






17. 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.






18. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






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






20. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






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






22. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






23. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






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






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






26. Sliding between two notes.






27. Indicating speed.






28. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






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






30. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






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






32. 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.






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






34. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






35. 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.






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






37. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






38. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






39. The movement of chords in succession.






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






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






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






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






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






45. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






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






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






48. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






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






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