Music Vocabulary

Question 1

Choral music without instrumental accompaniment

Answer 1

A Cappella

Question 2

Gradually increasing in speed

Answer 2

Accelerando

Question 3

Slowly, leisurely

Answer 3

Adagio

Question 4

Lively, brisk, rapid

Answer 4

Allegro

Question 5

In a moderately slow time, flowing easily and gracefully

Answer 5

Andante

Question 6

Solo song (in an opera) expressing a character’s feelings

Answer 6

Aria

Question 7

Time period lasted from the 1600 – 1750; main elements of this time period were complexity and ornamentation–music seemed to curl and twist with elaborate detail through orchestral music and opera; some of the greatest composers of this time period were Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, Monteverdi, and Purcell

Answer 7

Baroque Period

Question 8

In the 1930s, the style of music originating in the Mississippi Delta region, features guitar, soulful sound, use of blue notes and introduction of the singer

Answer 8

Blues

Question 9

In the 1920s, the dance oriented style of music using primarily piano repeating pattern in bass line (left hand) with syncopated choral melody in treble (right hand)

Answer 9

Boogie Woogie

Question 10

Type of musical in which the characters act out the plot which leads to a clear outcome

Answer 10

Book Musical

Question 11

Story line is humorous and light

Answer 11

Musical Comedies

Question 12

Story is more humorous in nature

Answer 12

Musical Plays

Question 13

Song and/or dance routine for a large number of performers

Answer 13

Chorus

Question 14

Chorus in a musical

Answer 14

Production number

Question 15

Mix of jazz and blues, female vocals, popular in first two decades of 20th century

Answer 15

Classic Blues

Question 16

From 1750 – 1820, the main elements were balance and clarity of structure which was written to appeal to all listeners and to stay within the boundaries of social etiquette; some of the greatest composers of this time period were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven

Answer 16

Classical Period

Question 17

Means “large concert”; most popular instrumental form of the Baroque era involving two violins, a viola and a cello and another instrument that would be given a solo role such as a trumpet or harpsichord

Answer 17

Concerto grosso

Question 18

Consists of a string ensemble larger than that of a concerto grosso featuring a solo instrument; Classical period began to include other instrumental sections in addition to strings; in the Romantic period, entire orchestras were used in conjunction with the solo instrument

Answer 18

Concerto

Question 19

Gradual increase in volume

Answer 19

Crescendo

Question 20

Gradual decrease in volume

Answer 20

Decrescendo

Question 21

Style of jazz music in the 1890s with syncopation, improvisation that is usually five or six players, one person per part

Answer 21

Dixieland

Question 22

Sweetly, delicately

Answer 22

Dolce

Question 23

Lowers a note ½ step

Answer 23

Flat

Question 24

Music native to a specific area, songs about common people, tells a story, variety of subject matter

Answer 24

Folk music

Question 25

Loud, strong

Answer 25

Forte

Question 26

Very loud

Answer 26

Fortissimo

Question 27

First American songwriter

Answer 27

Stephen Foster

Question 28

Contemporary American composer who combined jazz and classical elements in his music

Answer 28

George Gershwin

Question 29

Music being played/sung is made up on the spot, not practiced or written down

Answer 29

Improvisation

Question 30

Music in a play/musical/opera that underscores the action; the characters are not aware of it--background music

Answer 30

Incidental Music

Question 31

Style of music that originated in New Orleans, improvised out of spirituals

Answer 31

Jazz

Question 32

Ragtime composer

Answer 32

Scott Joplin

Question 33

Smoothly, evenly

Answer 33

Legato

Question 34

Script of an opera or musical

Answer 34

Libretto

Question 35

Style of music in the 1960s and 1970s that involves the improvisation of single lead players, loud screaming brass, accented or punched rhythms

Answer 35

Modern Jazz

Question 36

Film version of either an existing Broadway musical or a new musical written especially for the screen taking advantage of all the special capabilities of film

Answer 36

Movie Musical

Question 37

Written for stage consisting of a story, spoken in dialogue form with songs, dances, choruses, and incidental music; unique contribution of the US to the world of theater

Answer 37

Musical

Question 38

Play set to music; musical drama in which all of the dialogue is sung that combines the excitement of drama and the power of music

Answer 38

Opera

Question 39

Instrumental introduction of a musical or opera that sets the mood and allows us to hear some of the show's main melodies

Answer 39

Overture

Question 40

Extremely soft

Answer 40

Pianissimo

Question 41

Soft

Answer 41

Piano

Question 42

Notes from lowest to highest that an instrument can play

Answer 42

Range

Question 43

Dialogue that is sung rather than spoken

Answer 43

Recitative

Question 44

From 1450 – 1600, it is considered a time of great creativity, exploration and adventure that increased the use and invention of the printing press allowed music to be copied and distributed widely; leading composers of this time period were Dufay and Palestrina

Answer 44

Renaissance Period

Question 45

Gradually becoming slower

Answer 45

Ritardando

Question 46

Style of music influenced by jazz, rhythm & blues, folk, and country-western

Answer 46

Rock

Question 47

Wrote and produced musicals for the American stage and film

Answer 47

Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II

Question 48

From 1820 to 1900, the main elements were freedom of expression and a fascination with fantasy and nature; stressed emotion, imagination, and individualism; great composers from this time period were Listz, Wagner, Schumann, and Brahms

Answer 48

Romantic Period

Question 49

Taking the notes from their strict written value freely

Answer 49

Rubato

Question 50

The music

Answer 50

Score

Question 51

Raises a note ½ step

Answer 51

Sharp

Question 52

Four part male and female choir music using soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voicing

Answer 52

SATB

Question 53

One person singing or playing

Answer 53

Solo

Question 54

Work for solo instrument although pieces for violin and piano are found; form enjoyed tremendous popularity during the Classical period that are typically three movements in length with a fast first and third movement; second movement is generally slow and in a different key from the other two movements

Answer 54

Sonata

Question 55

Separated

Answer 55

Staccato

Question 56

Style of music in the 1940s featuring accented chords on the off-beat; start of the big band sound

Answer 56

Swing

Question 57

Large-scale orchestral work which usually consisted of four distinct and separate movements; first and last movements have a relatively fast tempo while the second is slow and the third is in the form of a minuet or scherzo (both dances) Orchestral demands increased from the Baroque period with Mozart as the first to prepare a separate score for the woodwinds; by Mahler's time, it might utilize a chorus and a full array of percussion instruments as well as the usual strings, brass, and woodwinds

Answer 57

Symphony

Question 58

Silence

Answer 58

Tacet

Question 59

Speed music is performed

Answer 59

Tempo

Question 60

Tone color of voices or instruments; unique sound of an instrument or voice

Answer 60

Timbre

Question 61

From 1900 – present, it is also known as contemporary music where composers sought to move away from traditional styles from the past and create their own musical identity; affected by technological advances, political and economic changes, and emotion-filled nationalistic pride; musical styles include jazz, rock, rap, country, folk, blues, and electric fusion

Answer 61

Twentieth Century Period

Question 62

With vivacity, lively, quickly

Answer 62

Vivace

Question 63

Highest female voice

Answer 63

Soprano

Question 64

Middle–soprano, somewhere between soprano and alto

Answer 64

Mezzo–soprano

Question 65

Lowest female voice

Answer 65

Alto (Contralto)

Question 66

Highest male voice

Answer 66

Tenor

Question 67

Male voice somewhere between tenor and bass and often categorized as "tenor/bari" or "bass/bari" parts for the higher and lower ranges

Answer 67

Baritone

Question 68

Lowest male voice

Answer 68

Bass