Music 105 - Understanding Music » Spring 2022 » Quiz 1 Elements of Music
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Question #1
Music can be defined as
A.
an art based on the organization of sounds in time.
B.
sounds that are pleasing, as opposed to noise.
C.
sounds produced by musical instruments.
D.
a system of symbols that performers learn to read.
Question #2
A tone in music is a sound that
A.
is produced by irregular vibrations.
B.
has an indefinite pitch.
C.
has a definite pitch.
D.
is pleasing to the ear.
Question #3
A sequence may be defined as
A.
the emotional focal point of a melody.
B.
a resting place at the end of a phrase.
C.
a part of a melody.
D.
the repetition of a melodic pattern at a higher or lower pitch.
Question #4
A chord is a
A.
series of individual tones heard one after another.
B.
resting point at the end of a phrase.
C.
combination of three or more tones sounded at once.
D.
pattern of accents used in music.
Question #5
A consonance is a combination of tones that
A.
are sounded one after the other.
B.
is considered unstable and tense.
C.
is considered stable and restful.
D.
form a melody.
Question #6
The simplest, most basic chord used in western music is the
A.
dyad.
B.
dissonance.
C.
triad.
D.
consonance.
Question #7
The distance in pitch between any two tones is called
A.
an interval.
B.
dynamic accent.
C.
timbre.
D.
duration.
Question #8
The dominant chord is the triad built on the _________ step of the scale.
A.
fourth
B.
fifth
C.
second
D.
first
Question #9
Key refers to
A.
the major scale.
B.
a musical symbol placed at the beginning of the staff.
C.
any twelve random pitches.
D.
a central tone, scale, and chord.
Question #10
Tonality is another term for
A.
scale
B.
key.
C.
modulation
D.
chromaticism.
Question #11
In traditional western music, the __________ is the smallest interval between successive tones of a scale.
A.
whole step
B.
quarter step
C.
half step
D.
octave
Question #12
If a pitch vibrates at 880 cycles, the octave below would vibrate at ____ cycles.
A.
1760
B.
660
C.
220
D.
440
Question #13
Modulation refers to
A.
a shift from one key to another within the same composition.
B.
the sharp or flat signs immediately following the clef sign at the beginning of the staff of a musical composition.
C.
an independence from major or minor scales.
D.
the central tone of a musical composition.
Question #14
Performance of a single melodic line by more than one instrument or voice is described as playing or singing in
A.
counterpoint.
B.
unison.
C.
harmony.
D.
imitation.
Question #15
The technique of combining several melodic lines into a meaningful whole is called
A.
texture.
B.
unison.
C.
imitation.
D.
counterpoint.
Question #16
The interval that occurs when two different tones blend so well when sounded together that they seem to merge into one tone, is called a(n)
A.
octave.
B.
pitch range.
C.
interval.
D.
dynamic accent.
Question #17
The organization of musical ideas in time is called
A.
ternary.
B.
form.
C.
repetition.
D.
variation.
Question #18
Repetition is a technique widely used in music because it
A.
provides a feeling of balance and symmetry.
B.
creates a sense of unity.
C.
All answers are correct.
D.
helps engrave a melody in the memory.
Question #19
Forward motion, conflict, and change of mood are produced through
A.
repetition.
B.
homogeneity.
C.
dynamics.
D.
contrast.
Question #20
A composition that alternates often between soft and loud dynamics can be said to be high in
A.
cadence.
B.
contrast.
C.
form.
D.
repetition.
Question #21
Three-part form can be represented as
A.
A A B.
B.
A B A.
C.
A B C.
D.
All answers are correct.
Question #22
Changes in musical style from one historical period to the next are usually
A.
lost to history.
B.
very abrupt.
C.
continuous.
D.
recognizable only by scholars and professional musicians.
Question #23
We know little about the music of very ancient civilizations because
A.
hardly any notated music has survived from these cultures.
B.
there probably was almost none.
C.
it was too primitive to interest later generations.
D.
it is too difficult to be played today.
Question #24
Dynamics in music refer to
A.
the relative highness or lowness we hear in a sound.
B.
an exemplary performance.
C.
the degree of loudness and softness.
D.
the quality that distinguishes musical sounds.
Question #25
When a performer emphasizes a tone by playing it more loudly than the tones around it, it is called a
A.
dynamic accent.
B.
crescendo.
C.
pianissimo.
D.
blooper.
Question #26
A gradual increase in loudness is known as a
A.
crescendo.
B.
decrescendo.
C.
fortissimo.
D.
diminuendo.
Question #27
A gradual decrease in loudness is known as a
A.
crescendo.
B.
fortissimo.
C.
diminuendo.
D.
ritardando.
Question #28
Tone color is synonymous with
A.
timbre.
B.
sound.
C.
dynamic accent.
D.
amplitude.
Question #29
Register refers to
A.
the instrument manufacturer's brand name.
B.
the number of reeds an instrument uses.
C.
playing two or more notes at the same time.
D.
part of an instrument's total range.
Question #30
Pizzicato is an indication to the performer to
A.
repeat tones by quick up-and-down strokes of the bow.
B.
pluck the string with the finger instead of using the bow.
C.
veil or muffle the tone by fitting a clamp onto the bridge.
D.
draw the bow across two strings at the same time.
Question #31
The very high-pitched tones that are produced when a string player lightly touches certain points on a string are called
A.
harmonics.
B.
vibrato.
C.
tremolo.
D.
pizzicato.
Question #32
The lowest woodwind instrument in the orchestra is the
A.
piccolo flute.
B.
tuba.
C.
contrabassoon.
D.
double bass.
Question #33
A thin piece of cane, used singly or in pairs by woodwind players, is called a
A.
double stop.
B.
reed.
C.
mute.
D.
mouthpiece.
Question #34
The saxophone is a
A.
brass instrument.
B.
single-reed woodwind instrument.
C.
double-mouthpiece brass instrument.
D.
double-reed woodwind instrument.
Question #35
Pitch is defined as
A.
the degree of loudness or softness in music.
B.
the relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound.
C.
leaning on a musical note.
D.
the quality that distinguishes musical sounds.
Question #36
Brass instruments did not acquire valves until the ____________________ century.
A.
end of the 19th
B.
end of the 18th
C.
middle of the 18th
D.
middle of the 19th
Question #37
The _________ has strings that are plucked by a set of plastic, leather, or quill wedges.
A.
harpsichord
B.
accordion
C.
piano
D.
organ
Question #38
A.
stops.
B.
pipes.
C.
valves.
D.
bellows.
Question #39
The _______ is a keyboard instrument that uses vibrating air columns to produce sound.
A.
harpsichord
B.
pipe organ
C.
accordion
D.
piano
Question #40
Synthesizers
A.
can generate a huge variety of musical sounds and noises.
B.
can usually be played by means of a keyboard.
C.
All answers are correct.
D.
allow the composer complete control over pitch, tone color, dynamics, and duration.
Question #41
MIDI is a
A.
standard adopted by manufacturers for interfacing synthesizer equipment.
B.
technology based on representing physical quantities as numbers.
C.
technology based on representing data in terms of measurable physical quantities.
D.
technology based on placing brief digital recordings of live sounds under the control of a synthesizer keyboard.
Question #42
The frequency of vibrations is measured in
A.
dynamic levels.
B.
cycles per second.
C.
noiselike sounds.
D.
cycles per minute.
Question #43
The ________ is a regular, recurrent pulsation that divides music into equal units of time.
A.
syncopation
B.
beat
C.
tempo
D.
rhythm
Question #44
The first, or stressed, beat of a measure is known as the
A.
upbeat.
B.
downbeat.
C.
intro.
D.
head.
Question #45
Western music uses ____________ letters of the alphabet to indicate pitch.
A.
a wide variety
B.
the last three
C.
the first seven
D.
the first five
Question #46
In music, a sound that has a definite pitch is called a
A.
noise.
B.
sound.
C.
tone.
D.
dynamic accent.
Question #47
A.
the organization of beats into regular groupings.
B.
a series of single notes which add up to a recognizable whole.
C.
a resting place at the end of a phrase.
D.
an emotional focal point in a tune.
Question #48
The distance between a melody's lowest and highest tones is known as its
A.
range.
B.
sequence.
C.
rhythm.
D.
cadence.
Question #49
A cadence is
A.
a melody that serves as the starting point for a more extended piece of music.
B.
the emotional focal point of a melody.
C.
a resting place at the end of a phrase.
D.
the repetition of a melodic pattern at a higher or lower pitch.
Question #50
A gradual increase in loudness is known as a
A.
fortissimo.
B.
diminuendo.
C.
crescendo.
D.
decrescendo.
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