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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. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






2. A period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. This period signified the rebirth of music - art - and literature.






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






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






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






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






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






8. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






9. 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.






10. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






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






12. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






13. The distance in pitch between two notes.






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






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






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






17. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






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






19. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






20. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






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






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






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






24. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






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






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






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






28. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






29. Suite of Baroque dances.






30. A separate section of a larger composition.






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






32. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






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






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






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






36. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






37. Group of singers in a chorus.






38. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played grandly.






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






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






41. The structure of a piece of music.






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






43. One of the two modes of the tonal system. Music written in major keys have a positive affirming character.






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






45. Convenient method of numbering a composer's works where a number follows the word 'opus'.For example - Opus 28 - No. 4.






46. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






47. Pertaining to the fugue - the overlapping of the same theme or motif by two or more voices a few beats apart.






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






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






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