1
Classical music is generally defined as which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Music written after 1600 | ||
| b. Music that is seen as long-lasting and valuable | ||
| c. Music played by specially-trained performers | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
2
Which of the following statements best defines music?
Choose one answer.
| a. Music is the sounds produced by musical instruments. | ||
| b. Music is the sounds that are pleasing, as opposed to noise. | ||
| c. Music is the art of organizing sounds in time. | ||
| d. Music is a system of symbols which performers learn to read. |
Question
3
Fill in the blank. In syncopation, a ______________ is accented.
Choose one answer.
| a. Strong beat | ||
| b. Weak beat | ||
| c. Measure | ||
| d. Meter |
Question
4
Fill in the blank. The loudness of a sound is connected to the _____________ of the vibration that produces the sound.
Choose one answer.
| a. Timbre | ||
| b. Amplitude | ||
| c. Duration | ||
| d. Frequency |
Question
5
Fill in the blank. The regular pulsation that divides music into equal units of time is known as a(n) ________________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Interval | ||
| b. Rhythm | ||
| c. Accelerando | ||
| d. Beat |
Question
6
How is the frequency of vibrations measured?
Choose one answer.
| a. Cycles per minute | ||
| b. Cycles per second | ||
| c. Dynamic levels | ||
| d. Italian words |
Question
7
If a string player uses vibrato by rocking the left hand to produce small pitch fluctuations, it is because of which of the following reasons?
Choose one answer.
| a. Using vibrato saves wear and tear on the wrist | ||
| b. Using vibrato increases the volume dramatically | ||
| c. The audience is getting bored | ||
| d. Using vibrato makes the tone sound warmer and more expressive |
Question
8
In music, what is a sound that has a definite pitch called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Noise | ||
| b. Vibration | ||
| c. Dynamic Accent | ||
| d. Tone |
Question
9
Key in music refers to which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. The major scale | ||
| b. A central tone, chord, and scale | ||
| c. Any twelve random pitches | ||
| d. A symbol placed on the staff |
Question
10
Monophonic texture consists of which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. A single melodic line without accompaniment | ||
| b. One main melody accompanied by chords | ||
| c. Two or more melodies of relatively equal interest performed simultaneously | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
11
Musical texture refers to which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. How many different layers of sound are heard at the same time | ||
| b. What kind of layers of sound are heard (melody or harmony) | ||
| c. How layers of sound are related to each other | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
12
Sounding three or more tones at the same time creates which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Harmony | ||
| b. Consonance | ||
| c. A chord | ||
| d. Dissonance |
Question
13
The pedals of a harp are used to do which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Dampen the sound | ||
| b. Change key | ||
| c. Add vibrato | ||
| d. Add "wah-wah" effects |
Question
14
The vibrations of brass instruments come from which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. A column of air in a metal tube | ||
| b. A single reed | ||
| c. A double reed | ||
| d. The player's lips |
Question
15
What is a combination of tones that is considered unstable and tense called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Consonance | ||
| b. Progression | ||
| c. Dissonance | ||
| d. Chord |
Question
16
What is a resting place at the end of a phrase called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Sequence | ||
| b. Theme | ||
| c. Cadence | ||
| d. Climax |
Question
17
What is a shift from one key to another within the same composition called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Key | ||
| b. Resolution | ||
| c. Scale | ||
| d. Modulation |
Question
18
What is a very brief snippet of music that serves as the focal point in a piece of music called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Sequence | ||
| b. Motif | ||
| c. Melody | ||
| d. Climax |
Question
19
What is the central tone around which a musical composition is organized called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Scale | ||
| b. Dominant | ||
| c. Tonic | ||
| d. Modulation |
Question
20
What is the difference between any two tones called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Duration | ||
| b. Dynamic accent | ||
| c. Timbre | ||
| d. An interval |
Question
21
What is the main tune, or theme, of a piece of music usually known as?
Choose one answer.
| a. Cadence | ||
| b. Rhythm | ||
| c. Melody | ||
| d. Sequence |
Question
22
What is the organization of beats into regular groupings called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Meter | ||
| b. Syncopation | ||
| c. Tempo | ||
| d. Dynamics |
Question
23
When a measure has two beats, it is said to be in which meter?
Choose one answer.
| a. Quadruple meter | ||
| b. Duple meter | ||
| c. Syncopation | ||
| d. Triple meter |
Question
24
When an accent occurs on an unexpected beat, the effect is known as which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. An error | ||
| b. Syncopation | ||
| c. Expiation | ||
| d. Pizzicato |
Question
25
Which of the following instruments is the largest of the woodwinds in the orchestra?
Choose one answer.
| a. Tuba | ||
| b. Double bass | ||
| c. Bassoon | ||
| d. Clarinet |
Question
26
Which of the following is another term for key?
Choose one answer.
| a. Tonality | ||
| b. Scale | ||
| c. Chromaticism | ||
| d. Dominant |
Question
27
Which of the following is defines as making one beat sound stronger than the others?
Choose one answer.
| a. Meter | ||
| b. Tempo | ||
| c. Dynamics | ||
| d. Accent |
Question
28
Which of the following is the only orchestral drum with any definite (fixed) pitch?
Choose one answer.
| a. Snare drum | ||
| b. Bass drum | ||
| c. Timpani | ||
| d. Tambourines |
Question
29
Which of the following is true of a chord progression?
Choose one answer.
| a. A chord progression is three single notes that are played separately first and then together as a chord. | ||
| b. A chord progression is a sequence of chords in the same rhythm. | ||
| c. A chord progression is a sequence of chords that fit together harmonically. | ||
| d. A chord progression is a sequence of chords that change key. |
Question
30
Which of the following statements is true of harmony in relation to music?
Choose one answer.
| a. Harmony refers to the way chords are constructed and how they follow each other. | ||
| b. Harmony refers to living in peace with other people. | ||
| c. Harmony refers to a pattern of beats per measure. | ||
| d. Harmony refers to a chord built on the first step of the scale. |
Question
31
Which term refers to the rate of speed of the beat of the music?
Choose one answer.
| a. Meter | ||
| b. Tempo | ||
| c. Dynamics | ||
| d. Accent |
Question
32
Fill in the blank. In general, the smaller the vibrating elements, the _____________ its pitch.
Choose one answer.
| a. Higher | ||
| b. Softer | ||
| c. Lower | ||
| d. Louder |
Question
33
A composition in multiple parts based on one main theme is known as which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Subject | ||
| b. Voice | ||
| c. Fugue | ||
| d. Tonic |
Question
34
According to Professor Wright, which feature does the 1962 popular song "Duke of Earl" share in common with other examples of classical music played in his
lecture?
Choose one answer.
| a. It has a fast rate of harmonic change. | ||
| b. It is based on a bass progression. | ||
| c. It is extremely complex in its structure. | ||
| d. None of the above |
Question
35
Fill in the blank. In many fugues, the subject in one voice is accompanied by a(n) _______________ in another voice.
Choose one answer.
| a. Answer | ||
| b. Fugue | ||
| c. Scale | ||
| d. Countersubject |
Question
36
Fill in the blank. In the ______________, the subject is imitated before it is completed.
Choose one answer.
| a. Stretto | ||
| b. Pedal point | ||
| c. Aria | ||
| d. Countersubject |
Question
37
Fill in the blank. Pachelbel's Canon is an example of a piece that makes use of ________________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Ostinato form | ||
| b. Theme and variations | ||
| c. Sonata-allegro form | ||
| d. None of the above |
Question
38
Fill in the blank. Theme and variations form may be schematically outlined as ________________.
Choose one answer.
| a. AABB | ||
| b. ABCD | ||
| c. A1 A2 A2 A4 | ||
| d. BBCC |
Question
39
In the development section of a classical piece, which of the following is likely to happen?
Choose one answer.
| a. Modulation | ||
| b. Emotional intensification | ||
| c. Use of counterpoint or contrapuntal treatment of the theme | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
40
In theme and variations, changes in the theme may include which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Melodic variation | ||
| b. Harmonic variation | ||
| c. Rhythmic variation | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
41
Mozart's setting of the French folksong, "Ah! Vous Dirai-Je, Maman," reflects the use of which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Theme and variations form | ||
| b. A bass progression | ||
| c. Fugue | ||
| d. None of the above |
Question
42
The subject in a fugue can be turned upside down in a procedure known as which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Retrograde | ||
| b. Diminution | ||
| c. Augmentation | ||
| d. Inversion |
Question
43
Three-part form can be represented as which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. A B A | ||
| b. A B A' | ||
| c. Statement, contrast, return | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
44
What is an English term for ostinato?
Choose one answer.
| a. Cadence | ||
| b. Ground bass | ||
| c. Mute | ||
| d. Lever |
Question
45
What is the organization of musical ideas in time called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Form | ||
| b. Repetition | ||
| c. Ternary | ||
| d. Variation |
Question
46
Which is the proper definition of form?
Choose one answer.
| a. Verse-chorus | ||
| b. Speed of music | ||
| c. Specific sound for an instrument or voice | ||
| d. Blueprint for a piece of music |
Question
47
Which of the following is NOT an actual form?
Choose one answer.
| a. Singular form | ||
| b. Binary form | ||
| c. Ternary form | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
48
Which of the following statements is true in a classic rondo form?
Choose one answer.
| a. In a classic rondo form, the A section is repeated several times while interspersed with other sections (Bs and Cs). | ||
| b. In a classic rondo form, composers generally try to achieve some contrast between sections and use different keys. | ||
| c. In a classic rondo form, the A section is only played at the beginning and end of a piece. | ||
| d. Both A and B |
Question
49
Retaining some features of a musical idea while changing others is called which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Form | ||
| b. Contrast | ||
| c. Repetition | ||
| d. Variation |
Question
50
Arnold Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire" is scored for which of the following instruments?
Choose one answer.
| a. Piano, voice, flute, violin, cello, and percussion | ||
| b. Piano, voice, harp, accordion, cello, and percussion | ||
| c. Harpsichord, hurdy-gurdy, accordion, flute, and percussion | ||
| d. Piano, flute, and string quartet |
Question
51
As a stylistic period in Western music, the Renaissance occurred during what time period?
Choose one answer.
| a. 1450-1600 | ||
| b. 1600-1750 | ||
| c. 1750-1820 | ||
| d. 1820-1900 |
Question
52
As Catholic composers in Tudor England, William Byrd and Thomas Tallis did which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Converted to the Protestant faith and adopted the mainstream Protestant style of musical composition | ||
| b. Remained Catholic and accommodated their employers by changing their musical styles to suit the different monarchs' vastly different demands | ||
| c. Fled to Italy under threat of arrest and trial for heresy | ||
| d. None of the above |
Question
53
As music director for St. Thomas's Church in Leipzig, Bach's responsibilities included which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Supervising and directing the musical performances | ||
| b. Composing much of the music required for performances | ||
| c. Teaching the young boys in the choir | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
54
Baroque instrumental music often includes an instrument or group of instruments playing which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. A concerto grosso | ||
| b. A basso continuo | ||
| c. The affections | ||
| d. An ostinato |
Question
55
Baroque music reflected which of the following characteristics?
Choose one answer.
| a. It expressed the order of the universe | ||
| b. It expressed an interest in new genres and compositional techniques. | ||
| c. It focused on the concept of the composer as an artist, as opposed to a craftsman in the service of God or the nobility, or both. | ||
| d. Both A and B |
Question
56
Berlioz was first to do which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Set a story to music in a symphony | ||
| b. Use a tuba in the orchestra | ||
| c. Write an opera in French | ||
| d. Both A and B |
Question
57
Charles Ives' music contains which of the following elements?
Choose one answer.
| a. Revival hymns and ragtime | ||
| b. Patriotic song and barn dances | ||
| c. Village bands and church choirs | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
58
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. The oratorio normally differs from an opera in that it has no _______________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Acting | ||
| b. Scenery | ||
| c. Choral numbers | ||
| d. Acting and scenery |
Question
59
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. Thomas Weelkes' "As Vesta Was Descending" is notable for its ________________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Word painting | ||
| b. Completely homophonic texture | ||
| c. Instrumental accompaniment | ||
| d. Monophonic texture |
Question
60
Choose the best answer to fill in the blanks. With "Pierrot Lunaire," Arnold Schoenberg creates a seminal musical work that is _______________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Expressionistic and melodramatic | ||
| b. Devoid of a tonal center | ||
| c. Romantic and nostalgic | ||
| d. Romantic, nostalgic, and devoid of a tonal center |
Question
61
Composers in the twentieth century drew inspiration from which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Folk and popular music from all cultures | ||
| b. European art music from the Middle Ages through the nineteenth century | ||
| c. The music of Asia and Africa | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
62
Debussy has stated that he objected to which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Loud noises and bombast in music | ||
| b. The overuse of folk idioms in French music | ||
| c. Large orchestras | ||
| d. A rejection of the laws of composition and a tendency toward musical hedonism among his classmates at the Paris Conservatoire |
Question
63
Debussy's music tends to do which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Sound free and almost improvisational | ||
| b. Affirm the key very noticeably | ||
| c. Have a strong rhythmic pulse | ||
| d. Use the full orchestra for massive effects |
Question
64
Debussy's "La Mer" is representative of which genre or form?
Choose one answer.
| a. A tone poem | ||
| b. Concerto grosso | ||
| c. Sonata-allegro form | ||
| d. A program symphony |
Question
65
Early in his life, Mozart did which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Secured an excellent, well-paid position in Salzburg | ||
| b. Went to Vienna to study with Haydn and copied his manuscripts | ||
| c. Went on tour in England and Europe where he was exposed to Enlightenment ideals | ||
| d. Played in the Archbishop's orchestra in Salzburg |
Question
66
Fill in the blank. In music, ______________ refers to a characteristic way of using melody, rhythm, tone color, dynamics, harmony, texture, and form.
Choose one answer.
| a. It was home to many noble and aristocratic families with the resources to support music | ||
| b. There was a guarantee of a permanent position for talented composers and musicians | ||
| c. The audiences were sophisticated in their tastes | ||
| d. Vienna was a cultural center | ||
| e. Fashion | ||
| f. Technique | ||
| g. Style | ||
| h. Tradition |
Question
67
Fill in the blank. Medieval music that consists of Gregorian chant and one or more additional melodic lines is called ________________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Alleluia | ||
| b. Organum | ||
| c. Cantus firmus | ||
| d. Kyrie |
Question
68
Fill in the blank. The faun evoked in Debussy's famous composition "Afternoon of a Faun" is a _______________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Baby deer | ||
| b. Supernatural creature who is half man, half goat | ||
| c. Beautiful young maiden | ||
| d. Sensitive musician |
Question
69
Fill in the blank. , Handel's "Messiah" from Musopen, is an example of a(n) ________________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Opera chorus | ||
| b. Oratorio | ||
| c. Catholic mass | ||
| d. Concerto grosso |
Question
70
In his "Rite of Spring," Stravinsky drew inspiration largely from which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Eighteenth-century music | ||
| b. Beethoven's symphonies | ||
| c. Russian folklore | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
71
In Paris in 1889, Debussy was strongly influenced by which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Advantages of modern technology | ||
| b. Performances of the music of J.S. Bach | ||
| c. Performances of Asian music | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
72
In the classical period, demand increased among the public for which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Printed music | ||
| b. Musical instruments | ||
| c. Music lessons | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
73
In the medieval secular song "Sumer Is Icumen Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. Thomas Weelkes' "As Vesta Was Descending" is notable for its
________________.
Choose one answer.
| a. Word painting | ||
| b. Completely homophonic texture | ||
| c. Instrumental accompaniment | ||
| d. Monophonic texture |
Question
74
In which context did a capella choral singing develop in Europe?
Choose one answer.
| a. The Sistine Chapel in Rome | ||
| b. The Romanesque churches of France | ||
| c. Hildegard von Bingen's abbey in Germany | ||
| d. The Sorbonne in Paris |
Question
75
In which of the following genres did Debussy compose?
Choose one answer.
| a. Orchestral music | ||
| b. Piano music | ||
| c. Opera | ||
| d. Both A and B |
Question
76
In," a simple harmony is created by doing which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Adding a drone pitch | ||
| b. Adding block chords | ||
| c. Singing the tune as a round | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
77
Musical characteristics of the Viennese Classical style include which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. A general feeling of change within movements | ||
| b. Irrationality and excess | ||
| c. Emphasis on balance and proportion | ||
| d. Both A and C |
Question
78
Notable musical phenomena of the Renaissance include which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. The development of instrumental music | ||
| b. The invention of the piano | ||
| c. An abandonment of the ideals of symmetry, proportion, and balance in music | ||
| d. A revival of interest in medieval organum |
Question
79
Romanticism in music was influenced by which developments?
Choose one answer.
| a. Poetry | ||
| b. Painting | ||
| c. Advances in technology | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
80
The Baroque period in Western music occurred during what time period?
Choose one answer.
| a. 450-1450 | ||
| b. 1450-1600 | ||
| c. 1600-1750 | ||
| d. 1750-1820 |
Question
81
The Classical style in Western music emerged in which city?
Choose one answer.
| a. Berlin | ||
| b. Vienna | ||
| c. Paris | ||
| d. London |
Question
82
The Council of Trent, convened during the Counter-Reformation, attempted to impose which of these reforms on music?
Choose one answer.
| a. Composers should give up polyphonic music and go back to composing chant. | ||
| b. Sacred chant should be used as the basis for secular dances. | ||
| c. Latin texts should be replaced with the vernacular. | ||
| d. Music should be composed in strict time. |
Question
83
The cultural context for the Viennese Classical style was defined by which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Renewed religious fervor | ||
| b. The ideals of the Enlightenment | ||
| c. A renewed emphasis on pleasure and beauty | ||
| d. None of the above |
Question
84
The first steps toward the development of polyphony were taken between 700 and 900 CE, when which of the following occurred?
Choose one answer.
| a. Musicians composed new music to accompany dancing. | ||
| b. The French nobles began to sing hunting songs together. | ||
| c. Monks in monastery choirs began to add a second melodic line to Gregorian chant. | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
85
The music of Berlioz is characterized by which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Innovative orchestral combinations | ||
| b. Dramatic emotional expression | ||
| c. Large orchestral forces | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
86
The Renaissance composer Pierliugi da Palestrina was particularly admired for which musical skills?
Choose one answer.
| a. The ability to control dissonance | ||
| b. Smooth choral textures | ||
| c. The ability to create elegant six-part vocal music | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
87
This musical example, "" on Musopen's website, is from which of the following?
Choose one answer.
| a. Berlioz's Fantastic Symphony | ||
| b. A Bach cantata | ||
| c. Beethoven's Eroica symphonie | ||
| d. Haydn's "London" symphonies |
Question
88
This painting reflects which preoccupations of sixteenth century humanists?
Choose one answer.
| a. The intimate connections between words and music | ||
| b. Music's emotional effects on listeners | ||
| c. The need for music to become a more democratic mode of expression | ||
| d. Both A and B |
Question
89
What is the name of the popular Renaissance stringed instrument played by the man in the center of the painting?
Choose one answer.
| a. Lute | ||
| b. Viol | ||
| c. Vielle | ||
| d. Viriginal |
Question
90
What is the style of sung speech used by Schoenberg in "Pierrot Lunaire" called?
Choose one answer.
| a. Stimmesprech | ||
| b. Sprechstimme | ||
| c. Sprechschwimme | ||
| d. Spechstame |
Question
91
Which event is described in the Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring"?
Choose one answer.
| a. Courtship between a Greek goddess and a male mortal | ||
| b. The sacrifice of a young girl | ||
| c. The erotic dreams of a young composer | ||
| d. The changing rhythms of farm life in springtime. |
Question
92
Which features are characteristic of the Impressionist style?
Choose one answer.
| a. Absence of meter | ||
| b. Absence of a clear tonality | ||
| c. The use of huge orchestras | ||
| d. Both A and B |
Question
93
Which is/are true about Pope Gregory, to whom Gregorian chant is attributed?
Choose one answer.
| a. He composed all the chants presently in use. | ||
| b. He was credited in medieval legend with having written it down upon hearing a dove singing the melodies into his ear. | ||
| c. He had his name put on the first printed edition. | ||
| d. He wrote the texts for the chants. |
Question
94
Which of the following best describes the music of Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique"?
Choose one answer.
| a. An opium-induced nightmare | ||
| b. The bouncing of the artist's head falling into the basket after he is executed | ||
| c. A demonic orgy | ||
| d. All of the above |
Question
95
Which of the following is indicative of the lack of acclaim given to Bach by his contemporaries in Germany?
Choose one answer.
| a. He was imprisoned by one of his employers for not asking permission to leave. | ||
| b. He was buried in an unmarked grave. | ||
| c. He was mocked for writing fugues with "too many notes." | ||
| d. Both A and B |
Question
96
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of musical Romanticism?
Choose one answer.
| a. Romanticism expressed an interest in program music, or music inspired by extramusical sources. | ||
| b. Romanticism expressed the concept of the courageous artist battling against Philistine forces. | ||
| c. Romanticism borrowed scales from non-Western cultures. | ||
| d. Romanticism explored a rediscovery of medieval and Baroque music. |
Question
97
Which of the following is true of Gregorian chant?
Choose one answer.
| a. Gregorian chant is monophonic in texture. | ||
| b. Gregorian chant is homophonic in texture. | ||
| c. Gregorian chant is polyphonic in texture. | ||
| d. Gregorian chant has no texture. |
Question
98
Which of the following statements is true of Copland's "Appalachian Spring"?
Choose one answer.
| a. Copland built "Appalachian Spring" on a 12-tone scale. | ||
| b. Copland built "Appalachian Spring" on a pentatonic scale. | ||
| c. Copland built "Appalachian Spring" on the simplest elements of tonal music. | ||
| d. Copland built "Appalachian Spring" on elaborate late-Romantic harmonies. |
Question
99
Which was NOT a characteristic of the new pianos made in Vienna in the late 18th century?
Choose one answer.
| a. Quicker response when a key is pressed, making it possible to play faster | ||
| b. Louder sound | ||
| c. Cast iron frames | ||
| d. Growing appeal to the middle class to purchase for home use |
Question
100
Who were Bach's early employers before he served Lutheran churches?
Choose one answer.
| a. Wealthy Protestant princes | ||
| b. Orphanages | ||
| c. Universities | ||
| d. Monasteries |
Question
101
Why did Bach write over 300 cantatas?
Choose one answer.
| a. He entered a national competition. | ||
| b. He was not permitted to perform any cantata more than once. | ||
| c. He needed music for the cantata texts which referred to Bible readings for specific Sundays and holidays. | ||
| d. All of the above |