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

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