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






2. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






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






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






5. Group of singers in a chorus.






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






7. The movement of chords in succession.






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






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






10. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






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






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






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






14. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






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






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






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






18. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






19. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






20. The principal note of a triad.






21. A composition written for nine instruments.






22. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






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






24. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






25. A composition written for nine instruments.






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






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






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






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






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






31. The range of an instrumental or a vocal part.






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






33. 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.






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






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






36. 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.






37. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






38. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






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






40. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






41. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






42. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






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






44. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






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






46. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






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






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






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






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