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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 short or brief sonata.






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






3. A direction to play lively and fast.






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






5. The interval between two notes. Two whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






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






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






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






9. A set of four musicians who perform a composition written for four parts.






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






11. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






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






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






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






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






16. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






17. 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.






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






19. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






20. Where the musical themes and melodies are developed - written in sonata form.






21. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






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






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






24. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






25. The principal note of a triad.






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






27. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






28. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






29. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






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






31. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






32. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






33. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






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






35. The distance in pitch between two notes.






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






37. 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.






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






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






40. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






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






42. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






43. Ability to determine the pitch of a note as it relates to the notes that precede and follow it.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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