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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. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






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






3. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






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






5. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






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






7. A repeated phrase.






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






9. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






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






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






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






13. Lowest female singing voice.






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






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






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






17. The first violin in an orchestra.






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






19. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






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






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






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






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






24. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






25. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






26. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






27. Indicating speed.






28. A short light musical drama.






29. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






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






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






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






33. Closing section of a movement.






34. Repetition of a single tone.






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






36. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






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






38. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






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






40. 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.






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






42. The structure of a piece of music.






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






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






45. 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.






46. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






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






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






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






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