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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 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






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






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






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






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






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






7. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






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






9. Closing section of a movement.






10. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






11. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






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






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






14. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






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






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






17. The structure of a piece of music.






18. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






19. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






20. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






21. A repeated phrase.






22. Direction to performer to play a composition in a brisk - lively - and spirited manner.






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






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






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






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






27. 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.






28. The first violin in an orchestra.






29. Unmusical - without tone.






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






31. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






32. A symbol indicating that the note is to be diminished by one semitone.






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






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






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






36. Direction to performer to play a composition in a brisk - lively - and spirited manner.






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






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






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






40. The structure of a piece of music.






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






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






43. 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.






44. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






45. Suite of Baroque dances.






46. A separate section of a larger composition.






47. The highest female voice.






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






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






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