Prelim Revision

Question 1

What does legato mean?

Answer 1

Notes are played smoothly

Question 2

Unison definition

Answer 2

Same notes at the same time

Question 3

Simple time definition

Answer 3

2/4 time or 4/4

Cof-fee

Question 4

Compound time definition

Answer 4

6/8 3/4

Straw-ber - ry

Question 5

Anacrusis

Answer 5

The melody begins before the first strong beat of the music

Question 6

Allegro definition

Answer 6

Fast

Question 7

Moderato definition

Answer 7

Moderate tempo

Question 8

Andante definition

Answer 8

Walking pace

Question 9

Adagio definition

Answer 9

Slow

Question 10

Accelerando definition

Answer 10

Getting faster

Question 11

Rallentando

Answer 11

Getting slower

Question 12

Canon

Answer 12

Strict imitation. One part plays a melody and another part enters shortly afterwards with the same melody

Question 13

Cadenza definition

Answer 13

In a concerto, the soloist shows off - unaccompanied

Question 14

Concerto definition

Answer 14

Solo instrument accompanied by orchestra

Question 15

Symphony definition

Answer 15

A work for orchestra usually in 4 movements

Question 16

What does the dynamic pp mean

Answer 16

Pianissimo - very quiet

Question 17

What does p mean

Answer 17

Piano- quiet

Question 18

What does mp mean

Answer 18

Mezzo piano - moderately quiet

Question 19

What does mf mean

Answer 19

Moderately loud

Question 20

What does f and ff mean

Answer 20

F means forte or loudly

Ff means fortissimo or very loudly

Question 21

What does < mean

Answer 21

Crescendo - gradually getting louder

Question 22

What does > mean

Answer 22

Diminuendo - gradually getting softer

Question 23

What does con sordino mean

Answer 23

Muted (brass instruments)

Question 24

Rubato definition

Answer 24

Speeding up or slowing down to suit the mood of the piece

Question 25

What is an Ornament?

Answer 25

A musical decoration in the melody line

Question 26

What is glissando?

Answer 26

Sliding rapidly up and down the notes

Question 27

What is the chromatic scale?

Answer 27

A scale built entirely on semitones (sounds like playing every note)

Question 28

What is a whole tone scale?

Answer 28

A scale built entirely on tones. (sounds dreamy and like fairy/movie soundtrack)

Question 29

What is the pentatonic scale?

Answer 29

A scale based on 5 notes. Very popular in folk(Scottish) Music

Question 30

What is syllabic?

Answer 30

One note for each syllable. (less common)

Question 31

What is melismatic?

Answer 31

Several notes sung to one syllable (more common - most pop songs)

Question 32

What is contrary motion?

Answer 32

Two parts moving in opposite directions | Eg one ascending, one descending

Question 33

What is a counter melody?

Answer 33

A melody played against the main melody

Question 34

What is a descant?

Answer 34

Another melody above the main tune, mainly in vocal music

Question 35

What is contrapuntal?

Answer 35

The same as polyphonic

Question 36

What is ostinato?

Answer 36

A short musical pattern repeated many times (like a riff but usually an orchestra plays it)

Question 37

What is Rondo?

Answer 37

A form in music where the first section comes back after each contrasting section A B A C A D A E A etc

Question 38

What is strophic?

Answer 38

Music / song with a recurring verse and Chorus

Question 39

What is a cadenza?

Answer 39

A show-off passage in a Concerto where the soloist performs a solo passage showing how well they play the instrument.

Question 40

What is a ground bass?

Answer 40

A theme repeated in the bass many times while the upper parts are varied (common in baroque)

Question 41

What is an Alberti bass?

Answer 41

Broken chords played in the left hand while the right hand plays the melody. Usually found only on piano (common in classical)