MUS 122 Final Exam Practice Exam
Absolute music tells a story or seeks to portray a tangible picture. True or False
False
Being labeled as a Baroque composer during this period was high praise, indicating that your composed harmonies would be conservative and melodic material would draw from traditional sources. True or False
False
Binary form can present as any of the following structures: ABA, AABBA, AABA, or ABBA. True or False
False
Despite the popularity of Ludwig van Beethoven in the classical period, his influence was hardly felt in the romantic period (as musicians began to forget who he was). True or False
False
During the Medieval period there was NOT a significant emphasis on religion in the cultural arts. True or False
False
Impressionist composers represented the physical gesture of brush-strokes as long or short primarily through their choice of tempo. True or False
False
Medieval motets used only sacred language, rather than secular. True or False
False
The Classical Era refers to all music that we, in modern day, refer to as "classical music." True or False
False
Tones are synonymous with noise, defined by their irregular and inconsistent sound waves. True or False
False
When Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) premiered in Paris in 1913, the Parisian audience loved it because it contained the smooth, elegant, and graceful dancing that was traditionally found in ballet at the time. True or False
False
When beats are organized into groups of three (3) we call that quadruple meter. True or False
False
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was frequently nicknamed _____. a. The African Mahler b. The Squire of the Symphony c. The Black Beethoven d. The King of Swing
a. The African Mahler
The most solemn service of the Catholic church, commemorating and reenacting the Last Supper, is called a. The Mass b. Motet c. Propero d. Vespers
a. The Mass
P.I. Tchaikovsky is most famous for what work that he ironically also despised? a. The Nutcracker b. Symphony 6 "Pathetique" c. Souvenir de Florence d. The Queen of Spades
a. The Nutcracker
Symphonie fantastique is a multi-movement symphony written as _____ a. Absolute music b. Program music c. Etudiation d. Concerto style
b. Program music
What musical period occurred between 1450-1600? a. Medieval b. Renaissance c. Humanist d. Primitivist
b. Renaissance
Which painting from our lecture best represents the Baroque era aesthetic? a. American Gothic by Wood b. The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula by Caravaggio c. The Death of Marat by David d. Mona Lisa by da Vinci
b. The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula by Caravaggio
Composer Stephen Foster was from which country? a. Czech Republic b. USA c. Ireland d. Finland
b. USA
Frederic Chopin was from _____. He loved his country and was incredibly nationalistic. a. Germany b. France c. Poland d. Hungary
c. Poland
What is the traditional form of the first movement of a classical symphony? a. Prelude b. Rondo c. Sonata Form d. Introduction and Allegro
c. Sonata Form
Franz Joseph Haydn was often called the father of the __________. a. Opera b. Choir c. String quartet d. Suite e. Skywalkers
c. String quartet
A Salon during the Romantic period entailed a private gathering of citizens to discuss and present artistic works. True or False
True
A musical composition can include monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic textures. True or False
True
Expressionism sought to represent the world through the lens of emotion rather than reality. True or False
True
George Bizet's operas, especially Carmen, present life as indifferent to human emotion, the term that best describes this artistic tradition toward realism is what? a. Romanticism b. Darwinism c. Absolute music d. Verismo
d. Verismo
Which element of Jazz does NOT come from African traditions? a. improvisation b. call and response c. blue notes d. formal structure
d. formal structure
The opening rhythmic motif of Beethoven's 5th Symphony is often nicknamed what? a. Morse code b. The motif of rhythm c. Motivic short-longs d. The fate motif
d. the fate motif
When talking about the primary melodic line we can also define as what term? a. harmony b. unison c. texture d. voice
d. voice
In twelve tone music, a tone row could be played forward (as written), in retrograde (backwards), in an inversion (upside-down), or in an inverted retrograde (upside-down and backwards.) True or False
True
Mozart was a master of all music genres in existence during his time. True or False
True
Music that is sung with no instrument accompaniment is called a capella. True or False
True
Ternary form consists of three or more musical sections. Musical works in ternary form generally conclude with a repeat of the opening melodic material. True or False
True
The down-beat is generally the first beat in a group of beats. It has a pronounced quality that can help the listener define the meter. True or False
True
When polyphonic voicings converge (get closer together) or diverge (move further apart) we call that contrary motion. True or False
True
The French Revolution, a political upheaval with massive and long reaching consequences across Europe, began in what year? a. 1789 b. 1776 c. 1914 d. 1984
a. 1789
What is a cantata? a. An often dramatic musical work for solo voice or choir with instrumental accompaniment (like a small orchestra). Similar to an opera but shorter and has no costumes, stage props, or acting. b. An often dramatic musical work for solo voice or choir with instrumental accompaniment (like a small orchestra). It is similar in length to an opera but solely focuses on teaching a religious lesson. c. A type of sword used in baroque operas that represented the concept of word painting. When it was swung, the orchestra played its melody. d. A stage-play that involves music (mostly singing) and also uses stage scenery, costumes, and acting.
a. An often dramatic musical work for solo voice or choir with instrumental accompaniment (like a small orchestra). Similar to an opera but shorter and has no costumes, stage props, or acting.
What do we call a song in which a poem is set to music and is designed to be performed by one singer and one pianist? These songs were most popular during the romantic period. a. Art song b. Aria song c. Duet song d. Solo song
a. Art song
Which statement is true? a. By the end of the baroque era, instrumental music had gradually equaled or surpassed vocal music in popularity b. During the baroque era, the madrigal emerged as a prominent vocal form c. By the end of the baroque era, sacred music had surpassed dance music in popularity d. At the beginning of the baroque era, J. S. Bach established the French overture
a. By the end of the baroque era, instrumental music had gradually equaled or surpassed vocal music in popularity
Franz Joseph Haydn belonged to which musical period? a. Classical b. Renaissance c. Medieval d. Baroque
a. Classical
What key was historically assumed to have an exuberant and bright quality? a. D Major b. E-flat Major c. C-sharp Minor
a. D Major
In 1802, Beethoven wrote a letter in which he poured out his heart and revealed his struggles, inner turmoil, and thoughts of suicide. This letter, though, also included his drive to fight through his struggles and succeed. Which letter is this? a. Heiligenstadt Testament b. Ode to the Immortal Beloved c. Poem of My Soul d. Musical Imprints
a. Heiligenstadt Testament
Who was the most successful marching band leader of America? a. John Philip Sousa b. Aaron Copland c. Leonard Bernstein d. Amy Beach
a. John Philip Sousa
Which ancient philosopher is credited with structuring and ordering the musical scales/modes as we know them today? a. Pythagoras b. Guido D'Arezzo c. Cynicism d. Plato
a. Pythagoras
Igor Stravinsky was a composer from what country? a. Russia b. Italy c. France d. Germany
a. Russia
Of the three main types of opera in the classical period, which used spoken dialogue rather than recitative? a. Singspiel b. Opera buffa c. Opera seria
a. Singspiel
Which statement regarding the movements of J.S. Bach's Baroque dance suite is incorrect? a. The Sarabande, a slow dance in three, was sexual in nature and originated in FRANCE. b. The Gigue, an Irish dance, was a fast dance in two and concluded the suite c. The Menuet, a quicker dance in three, was French and more "social" in the interactions between dancers. d. The Allemande, a serious Germanic dance in four, includes small detailed motions and symmetrical movements between partners that were eventually carried over to square dancing.
a. The Sarabande, a slow dance in three, was sexual in nature and originated in FRANCE
What musical form is described using A A1 A2 A3 A4 A5? a. Themes and Variations b. Sonato c. Rondo d. Binary
a. Themes and Variations
Franz Schubert's greatest compositional output was in the genre of the _______ a. art song b. symphony c. fugue d. opera
a. art song
Select all of the instruments that could belong to the rhythm section of a jazz band. a. double bass b. piano c. drum kit d. saxophone e. trumpet f. trombone
a. double bass b. piano c. drum kit
Mezzo forte means what? a. Mid-range pitch b. Moderately loud c. Vocal strength d. Slightly faster
b. Moderately loud
How does one properly say the last name of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? a. "Motts-art" b. "Moats-art" c. "Mo-zart" d. "Moes-art" e. "Mo-mo"
b. "Moats-art"
Schubert's Der Erlkönig (The Elf King) follows which of the following plots? a. A father and son ride on horseback quickly through the forest in order to rescue their family. The Elf King has kidnapped the family. Without rescue the family will die. Ultimately, the father and son save the family from the grasp of the Elf King but the father receives a fatal wound as result of the brave rescue. b. A father and son ride on horseback through the woods. The boy screams that the Elf King is after him (though the father dismisses it as a shadow or the wind). The Elf King comes into contact with the boy and when they arrive home, the boy is dead. c. The Elf King rides quickly through the woods in attempt to escape the soldiers who have betrayed their loyalty to him. The soldiers soon catch-up to the Elf King. But, thanks to quick wit and excellent use of a sword, the Elf King defeats the rogue soldiers and is able to yet again rule from the throne that is rightfully his. d. The Elf King lives in a tree factory with many other elves. The Elf King oversees the production of many delicious cookies.
b. A father and son ride on horseback through the woods. The boy screams that the Elf King is after him (though the father dismisses it as a shadow or the wind). The Elf King comes into contact with the boy and when they arrive home, the boy is dead.
The shift from one key to another within a composition is called what? a. Tonic b. Modulation c. Form d. Chromaticism
b. Modulation
What is word painting? a. A form of art during the renaissance period in which musicians performed choral works while artists painted words on the walls of the church. b. A musical concept in which melodies depict specific words that are sung (like notes going higher in pitch on the word "ascend"). c. A 1997 Microsoft Office attempt to merge Word and Paintbrush. The effort was valiant, but the product was less-than-impressive. d. Another name for Gregorian Chant.
b. A musical concept in which melodies depict specific words that are sung (like notes going higher in pitch on the word "ascend").
Johann Sebastian Bach lived during what musical period? a. Classical b. Baroque c. Renaissance d. Medieval
b. Baroque
In the exposition of Sonata form, what tool serves to "transition" between themes and keys? a. Sturm und Drang b. Bridge c. Coda d. B theme
b. Bridge
Who composed Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun)? a. Maurice Ravel b. Claude Debussy c. Richard Wagner d. Igor Stravinsky
b. Claude Debussy
What is opera buffa? a. Serious German opera b. Comic opera c. Musical theatre d. Serious opera
b. Comic opera
During the fifth movement of Symphonie fantastique, loud funeral bells are heard, followed by brass instruments that boldly play a parody of the _____ melody from the Catholic Requiem (Mass for the Dead). a. Program Music b. Dies Irae c. Idée fixe d. Beloved's
b. Dies Irae
A group of musicians performing together is referred to as a/an __________. a. Flock b. Ensemble c. Arte de musicale d. Company of notes e. Sound organization
b. Ensemble
What section of a fugue begins immediately after the exposition? a. Polyphony b. Episode c. Coda d. Development
b. Episode
A _____ is a musical work where the main melody (the subject) is developed polyphonically. After the initial melody is heard, that same melody enters a few seconds later but at a different note-level. This process continues until all layers of melodies have entered and a complicated web of sound has been created. a. Dance suite b. Fugue c. Symphony d. Madrigal
b. Fugue
What famous work influenced Franz Joseph Haydn so much that it led to his creating the oratorio The Creation? a. Purcell's Dido and Aeneas (specifically, the song "When I am Laid in Earth") b. Handel's Messiah (specifically, the "Hallelujah" Chorus) c. Bach's Sleeper's Awake (specifically, the seventh movement) d. Bach's The Little Fugue in G minor
b. Handel's Messiah (specifically, the "Hallelujah" Chorus)
What do we call a melody with smooth and connected notes? a. major b. legato c. piano d. allegro
b. legato
Which of the following are NOT dynamic indicators? Select all that apply. a. Mezzo piano b. Presto c. Adagio d. Vivace e. Forte
b. presto c. adagio d. vivace
The term for a central note that defines the key is what? a. Form b. Structure c. Texture d. Tonic
d. Tonic
Which is the most accurate definition of a melisma in chant? a. The Grecian goddess representing Locrian mode b. A single note corresponds to a single-syllable/monosyllabic word c. A group of notes sung over one syllable of text d. The Grecian goddess representing Venus
c. A group of notes sung over one syllable of text
Which of the following is NOT a difference between major and minor scales? a. Broadly speaking, a major scale sound happier or more uplifting than a minor scale, which sounds sadder and moody. b. A major scale has a different pattern of whole and half step intervals than a minor scale. c. A major scale is considered to be tonal, whereas a minor scale is not.
c. A major scale is considered to be tonal, whereas a minor scale is not.
What do we call a group of voices that sing together? a. Orchestra b. Pitch Perfect c. Choir d. Harmonics e. Artistic Vocalization
c. Choir
What does the term "decrescendo" refer to? a. Dynamics that gradually become louder b. Pitches that gradually become higher c. Dynamics that gradually become quieter d. Pitches that gradually become lower
c. Dynamics that gradually become quieter
Who composed the University of Alabama fight song "Yea Alabama"? a. Nick Saban b. Leonard Bernstein c. Ethelred Sykes d. Dabo Swinney
c. Ethelred Sykes
Claude Debussy was born in what country? a. Hungary b. Poland c. France d. Germany
c. France
Which philosopher does not belong to the Age of Enlightenment and its emphasis on human truth as being rational? a. Galileo Galilei b. Sir Francis Bacon c. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (pronounced Gur - ta) d. Denis Diderot
c. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (pronounced Gur - ta)
A written notation in music, used to help the performer identify if a piece is in major or minor, is called what? a. Conductor b. Clef c. Key signature d. Time signature
c. Key signature
A secular vocal genre containing a short poem set in the vernacular, this type of music was for multiple voices, found during the renaissance period, and used word painting so frequently that the genre's title became synonymous with the word painting technique. What is this describing? a. Oratorio b. Organum c. Madrigal d. Word Painting
c. Madrigal
475-1450 marks the years of which musical period? a. Classical b. Impressionist c. Medieval d. Baroque
c. Medieval
What is improvisation as it relates to music? a. The secondary melody in a fugue. b. The art of playing composed music completely from memory. c. Music that is created by the performer during the moment of performance. d. The ability to sight-read notes immediately from a printed page.
c. Music that is created by the performer during the moment of performance.
What is program music? a. Music strictly for orchestra and soloist. The orchestra and soloist work together to create a performance but trade back and forth who gets the spotlight (though the soloist is featured more so than the orchestra). b. A type of music meant to teach the performer a specific technique that is related to the performer's instrument. c. Music that uses the sounds of the instruments to recreate an image, scene, or event in the listener's mind. d. A concert in which all music is clearly printed on a physical program in great detail.
c. Music that uses the sounds of the instruments to recreate an image, scene, or event in the listener's mind.
What is an idée fixe? a. A traditional multi-movement work for orchestra that uses the concept of program music throughout. b. When a melody's reoccurrence is altered slightly to best fit the new context in which it is heard. c. The concept of associating a melody with a person, object, or idea (similar to the leitmotifs found in Richard Wagner's music dramas). d. A traditional melody from within the Catholic Mass for the Dead. It is frequently used in music where the theme of death is present.
c. The concept of associating a melody with a person, object, or idea (similar to the leitmotifs found in Richard Wagner's music dramas).
Who was Scott Joplin? a. The father of famous jazz artist Louis Armstrong b. One of the earliest and most successful blues singers of New Orleans c. The most popular and successful composer and performer of ragtime music d. The man behind the production of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band's jazz album (the first jazz album to ever be produced)
c. The most popular and successful composer and performer of ragtime music
The term "dynamics" refers to what aspect of music? a. Speed b. Range c. Volume/Power d. Length
c. Volume/Power
The invention of what modern device compelled painters to begin experimenting with Impressionism in the mid-1800's? a. paint brush b. computer c. camera d. printing press
c. camera
If melody is the horizontal aspect of music, what is the vertical? a. scales b. intervals c. harmony d. rhythm
c. harmony
If the notes of a melody are short, disconnected, and jumpy, those notes are what? a. minor b. forte c. staccato d. beats
c. staccato
When discussing the speed of a piece of music, you are discussing what element? a. pitch b. melody c. tempo d. harmony
c. tempo
What is a block chord? a. A gradual increase in dynamic over time b. A progression of notes in horizontal time c. A wooden block that creates sound when struck d. A progression of notes played in vertical time (simultaneously)
d. A progression of notes played in vertical time (simultaneously)
Who composed The Four Seasons? a. Frankie Valli b. Johann Sebastian Bach c. The Rolling Stones d. Antonio Vivaldi e. Henry Purcell
d. Antonio Vivaldi
In music, what do we specifically call the regular and recurrent pulse? a. Pitch b. Rhythm c. Tempo d. Beat
d. Beat
New York Free Jazz shared elements with what previously discussed European art movement? a. Primitivism b. Neo-classicism c. Impressionism d. Expressionism
d. Expressionism
Which of the following is NOT one of the dances commonly present in a baroque suite? a. Courante b. Menuet c. Sarabande d. Fantasia
d. Fantasia
Impressionism was heard around the world, but it most thrived in _____. a. Italy b. Russia c. Germany d. France
d. France
Symphonie fantastique was like an autobiography of Hector Berlioz's feelings for ____. a. Fanny Mendelssohn b. Clara Schumann c. Cosima Wagner d. Harriet Smithson
d. Harriet Smithson
Though his total compositional output included works beyond the style, which composer was the main composer of music of the primitivism style? a. Arnold Schoenberg b. Sergei Rachmaninoff c. Franz Liszt d. Igor Stravinsky
d. Igor Stravinsky
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) is best described with which musical style? a. Verismo b. Neoimpressionism c. Serialism d. Impressionism
d. Impressionism
In German, art songs are referred to as _____. a. Volkswagon b. Sprechstimme c. Singspiel d. Lieder
d. Lieder
Which answer below best fits with the musical style of primitivism? a. All twelve notes of the chromatic scale are the basis for creating the melodies. b. Perfectly recreating the melodies of previous composers as a way to honor the great composers who have come before. c. Emphasis of atmosphere and mood, avoidance of pomp, and melodies that drift in and out smoothly. d. Melodies do not flow smoothly (they are harsh and angular) and contain many unexpected accents.
d. Melodies do not flow smoothly (they are harsh and angular) and contain many unexpected accents.
George Frederic Handel's Messiah is a/an_____. a. Opera b. Cantata c. Gregorian Chant d. Oratorio
d. Oratorio
When a second melodic line was added to Gregorian chant, the song was then referred to as _____. a. Boredom b. Léonin c. Madrigal d. Organum
d. Organum
A musical texture, defined by multiple voices occurring simultaneously yet in musical contrast to each other, is called what? a. Monophony b. Homophony c. Polyphony
d. Polyphony
Who was Hildegard of Bingen? a. The founder of the medieval period music age. b. The first female to build a working pipe organ c. The wife of Pope Gregory I. She inspired him to create Gregorian Chant. d. The primary documented female composer of the medieval period.
d. The primary documented female composer of the medieval period.
