Vocabulary - West Side Story - p. 127

Question 1

What is the name of a unique genre developed with US with spoken dialogue but with songs, dances, choruses and often with spectacular staging
(sets, costumes, lighting)?

Give title of associated piece and its genre and composer.

Answer 1

Musical

West Side Story, musical theatre (or just musical), Bernstein

Question 2

What is hemiola?

Give title of associated piece and its genre and composer.

Answer 2

It is a temporary shift of the metric accents. For example, notes in groups of three are temporarily in groups of two.

Question 3

What is the common song structure in popular music in which the verses develop the character/storyline, while the ‘chorus’ acts as a refrain?

Give title of associated piece and its genre and composer.

Answer 3

verse-chorus structure

West Side Story, musical theatre (or just musical), Bernstein

Question 4

What is the musical style developed in the early 20th century in the US and combines elements of African, popular, and European music? It is based on improvisation.

Give title of associated piece and its genre and composer.

Answer 4

Jazz

West Side Story, musical theatre (or just musical), Bernstein

Question 5

Provide the definition of Jazz

Give title of associated piece and its genre and composer.

Answer 5

It’s a musical style developed in the early 20th century in the US. It combines elements of African, popular, and European music. It is based on improvisation.

West Side Story, musical theatre (or just musical), Bernstein

Question 7

What is the term for a temporary shift of the metric accents.

For example, notes in groups of three are temporarily in groups of two.

Give title of associated piece and its genre and composer.

Answer 7

Hemiola

Question 8

Provide definition of verse-chorus structure.

Give title of associated piece and its genre and composer.

Answer 8

This is a common song structure in popular music. The verses develop the character/storyline, while the ‘chorus’ acts as a refrain.

West Side Story, musical theatre (or just musical), Bernstein

Question 9

Provide definition of musical.

Give title of associated piece and its genre and composer.

Answer 9

A unique genre developed in the US. It’s a play with spoken dialogue but with songs, dances and choruses. The staging (sets, costumes, lighting) is often spectacular.

West Side Story, musical theatre (or just musical), Bernstein