Terms and Elements of Music

Question 1

the loudness or softness of a composition

Answer 1

Dynamics

Question 2

a directive in music to perform a certain passage loudly

Answer 2

Forte

Question 3

at a soft volume

Answer 3

Piano

Question 4

a gradual increase in the volume of music

Answer 4

Crescendo

Question 5

a gradual decrease in the volume of music

Answer 5

Decrescendo

Question 6

music’s pattern in time

Answer 6

Rhythm

Question 7

the basic rhythmic unit of a measure or bar

Answer 7

Beat

Question 8

a recurring pattern of stresses or accents that provide the pulse or beat of music

Answer 8

Meter

Question 9

the smallest metrical division of a composition, containing a fixed number of beats, marked off by vertical lines on the staff

Answer 9

Measure

Question 10

the concept of playing rhythms that accent or emphasize the offbeats

Answer 10

Syncopation

Question 11

the speed at which a piece of music is or should be played

Answer 11

Tempo

Question 12

a timely arranged linear sequence of pitched sounds that the listener perceives as a single entity; one of the three main parameters that makes music out of a collection of sounds and beats, alongside harmony and rhythm

Answer 12

Melody

Question 13

The scope of notes that an instrument or a voice can produce

Answer 13

Range

Question 14

music that is played in the background at the same time as another instrument or singer that plays or sings the main tune

Answer 14

Accompaniment

Question 15

a particular frequency of sound

Answer 15

Pitch

Question 16

the quality of an instrument’s or voice’s sound

Answer 16

Tone

Question 17

the inclusive distance between one tone and another, whether sounded successively (melodic interval) or simultaneously (harmonic interval)

Answer 17

Interval

Question 18

what occurs when more than one note is played or sung at the same time

Answer 18

Harmony

Question 19

an accord of sounds sweet and pleasing to the ear

Answer 19

Consonance

Question 20

two or more notes sounded together which are discordant, and, in the prevailing harmonic system, require resolution to a consonance

Answer 20

Dissonance

Question 21

the main group of pitches, or notes, that form the harmonic foundation of a piece of music

Answer 21

Key

Question 22

a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave); any graduated sequence of notes, tones, or intervals dividing what is called an octave

Answer 22

Scale

Question 23

a chord made up of three tones, called chord factors, of the diatonic scale: root, third, and fifth

Answer 23

Triad

Question 24

how the melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic materials are combined in a composition, thus determining the overall quality of the sound in a piece

Answer 24

Texture

Question 25

a piece of music where there is only one melodic sound being heard

Answer 25

Monophonic

Question 26

when there are multiple independent melodies being played or sung at the same time

Answer 26

Polyphonic

Question 27

where you can have multiple different notes playing, but they’re all based around the same melody

Answer 27

Homophonic

Question 28

refers to the structure and organization of a musical composition

Answer 28

Form

Question 29

a lengthy form of musical composition for orchestra, normally consisting of several large sections, or movements, at least one of which usually employs sonata form

Answer 29

Symphony

Question 30

a piece of music that is played on instruments; a type of musical composition, usually for a solo instrument or a small instrumental ensemble, that typically consists of two to four movements, or sections, each in a related key but with a unique musical character

Answer 30

Sonata

Question 31

a musical composition for instruments in which a solo instrument is set off against an orchestral ensemble

Answer 31

Concerto

Question 32

a chord progression of at least two chords that ends a phrase or section of a piece of music

Answer 32

Cadence

Question 33

the divisions of larger pieces of music into sections that are usually (but not always) marked by a pause in the performance

Answer 33

Movement

Question 34

of or relating to religion; not secular or profane

Answer 34

Sacred

Question 35

not pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to sacred)

Answer 35

Secular