Music 120 - Music Appreciation » Fall 2022 » Midterm 2

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Question #1
The concerto
A.   was a Renaissance genre that gained popularity in the Baroque era.
B.   was a new instrumental genre of the Baroque era featuring an instrumental soloist and orchestra.
C.   grew out of the lavish aristocratic weddings of the Renaissance.
D.   was a large-scale music drama with acting, scenery, and costumes.
Question #2
Which of the following describe William Billings’s contributions to American music history?
A.   All answers are correct.
B.   cultivating a tradition of American psalmody
C.   contributing songs to the cause of independence from Great Britain
D.   emphasizing the institutional importance of music
Question #3
Vivaldi wrote instrumental music that depicts a scene without the use of sung words, a genre called
A.   program music or "sound story" 
B.   absolute music.
C.   song.
D.   intentional music.
Question #4
The solo instrument featured in Vivaldi’s Spring concerto is the
A.   cello.
B.   harpsichord.
C.   double bass.
D.   violin.
Question #5
A highly structured contrapuntal form based on a single theme or subject is a
A.   prelude.
B.   fugue.
C.   da capo.
D.   toccata.
Question #6
The Classical concerto form has ______ movements.
A.   six
B.   three
C.   two
D.   five
Question #7
Which of the following describes a typical string quartet ensemble?
A.   two violins, two cellos
B.   two violins, one viola, one cello
C.   one violin, one viola, two cellos
D.   violin, viola, cello, double bass
Question #8
Which family of enormously wealthy Hungarian princes famous for their patronage of the arts did Haydn work for?
A.   St. Stephen
B.   Esterházys
C.   Weidinger
D.   Salieri
Question #9
W. A. Mozart was born in
A.   Venice, Italy.
B.   London, England.
C.   Salzburg, Austria.
D.   Halle, Germany.
Question #10
Music with no literary basis or story explicitly stated by the composer is referred to as
A.   incidental music.
B.   absolute music.
C.   program music.
D.   thematic music.
Question #11
A symphony
A.   is a multimovement work.
B.   was a new genre of the Classical era.
C.   is a work written for an orchestra.
D.   All answers are correct.
Question #12
________ form became a favorite resource for instrumental composers since the musical story it can tell is significantly more dynamic than other forms.
A.   Sonata-allegro
B.   Theme and variations
C.   Rondo
D.   Minuet-and-trio
Question #13
Which describes the instruments heard in this ensemble?
A.   violin, viola, cello, double bass 
B.   flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon
C.   saxophones
D.   two violins, one viola, one cello (string quartet)
Question #14
Why is Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 nicknamed “Surprise”?
A.   A sudden loud chord during the slow movement startled the dozing audience.
B.   The theme in the fourth movement is based on a folksong.
C.   The emperor played viola in the first performance.
D.   The main tune in the second movement is cut short by pauses.
Question #15
Which describes the overall dynamics in this variation?
A.   pianissimo
B.   crescendo from piano to forte
C.   decrescendo from forte to piano
D.   alternating between fortissimo and piano
Question #16
Which of the following occurs in the development section of sonata-allegro form?
A.   frequent modulations, wanders through several keys
B.   restatement of themes in the home key
C.   two opposing themes are “exposed”
D.   final cadence in the home key
Question #17
In the Classical-era concerto, the cadenza usually appears _______ of a movement.
A.   during the slow introduction
B.   during the development section
C.   at the beginning
D.   near the end
Question #18
Which describes the overall mood of the first movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata?
A.   scherzo, dancelike
B.   whimsical, delightful
C.   dreamy, ethereal
D.   romantic, passionate
Question #19
Which describes the tempo of the first movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata?
A.   adagio
B.   presto
C.   allegro
D.   vivace
Question #20
Which of the following applies to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony?
A.   All answers are correct.
B.   short-short-short-long motive appears in each movement.
C.   unified by a recurring motive.
D.   example of cyclical form.
Question #21
Which describes the opening motive of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5?
A.   rhythmic.
B.   short-short-short-long.
C.   All answers are correct.
D.   “fate knocking at the door”.
Question #22
The text of “Ode to Joy” by Friedrich von Schiller is an expression of
A.   power and greed.
B.   beauties of nature.
C.   universal brotherhood.
D.   romantic love.
Question #23
To whom did Beethoven originally dedicate his Symphony No. 3 (Eroica)?
A.   Haydn
B.   Napoleon
C.   Wellington
D.   Mozart
Question #24
Which of the following statements about Beethoven is(are) true?
A.   All answers are correct.
B.   Beethoven wrote in the Classical-era forms.
C.   Beethoven’s music is considered “transitional” between the Classical era and the Romantic era.
D.   Beethoven worked carefully to balance tradition with innovation in his music.
Question #25
Which describes a trouser role?
A.   the role of a teenage girl, dressing as a young man
B.   the role of a teenage boy, sung by a young tenor
C.     
D.   the role of a teenage boy, sung by a mezzo-soprano
Question #26
Mozart’s comic operas
A.   drew from stories of antiquity featuring kings and heroes.
B.   focused on delighting audiences and avoided cultural or political messages.
C.   still speak strongly to modern audiences with messages of social unfairness and the rights of individuals.
D.   were not well received during his lifetime but are having a resurgence with modern audiences.
Question #27
Which describes the singing style in this excerpt?
A.   quick notes, delivered freely; recitative
B.   elegant duet; aria
C.   lyrical lines; aria
D.   patter-like syllabic singing; aria
Question #28
The singers in this excerpt are accompanied by
A.   the woodwind section playing pianissimo.
B.   the brass section.
C.   piccolos
D.   piano and cello.
Question #29
The merchant class was critical to the rising success of the lighter opera buffa style in the Classical era.
A.   True
B.   False
Question #30
A musical setting of the Mass for the Dead is called
A.   the Mass Proper.
B.   the Ordinary.
C.   a Requiem.
D.   an oratorio.
Question #31
Mozart’s Requiem was the composer’s last work and was left incomplete.
A.   True
B.   False

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