Music Exam 1
The final word of the motet is Amen, which is Hebrew for "and so be it." Josquin declaims the meaning of this word by having the voices sing what with emphasis?
"A" and "men" to the same pitches
A new stanza of text appears, and the meter and texture change for the sake of variety. Which is correct?
Duple-meter polyphony gives way to triple-meter homophony.
What is the trajectory of the voice in this recitative?
It descends to reflect Dido's depressed mood.
For the word "running," what does the music do?
It goes faster and descends.
Identify the one statement about Henry Purcell that is INCORRECT.
His concertos and trio sonatas were widely admired throughout Europe.
Which of the following means Well Tuned Keyboard?
The Well-Tempered Clavier
Which phrase accurately describes the "major scale"?
a seven-note scale that ascends in the following order of whole and half steps: 1-1-1/2-1-1-1-1/2
Christe eleison
chant
Due to the physical power required to play the pianoforte, the most common players of the new instrument were professional male musicians.
false
What does the term "piano" mean?
in musical notation, a dynamic mark indicating "soft"
What is the "great staff"?
a large musical staff that combines both the treble and the bass clefs
The "oratorio" is
a large-scale genre of sacred music involving an overture, arias, recitatives, and choruses, but performed, whether in a theater or a church, without costumes or scenery.
Identify the mode of the listening example. (the 10 second one)
major
Mouret, Rondeau, from Suite de symphonies
major
Which term is synonymous with "bar"?
measure
Here, Handel, like many other composers throughout the history of music, sets the word glory in a distinctive way to glorify the moment. He calls for
melismatic singing.
What term describes this musical example?
melodic sequence
Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, 1st movement
monophonic
Identify the correct definition of "tonic."
the central pitch around which the melody and harmony gravitate
As is typical of an aria, in this one,
there is abundant text repetition.
As is typical of a recitative, in this one,
there is no text repetition.
Identify the instrument in the listening example.
trumpet
Mozart, A Little Night Music,1st movement
(the long one)
Finally, how did Vivaldi communicate his "program" to his listeners?
He wrote onomatopoeic music that mimicked in sound the words of his own poem.
(1:11-1:17) Which music returns here?
cadenza
In what order does the subject enter here in the complete exposition?
soprano-alto-tenor-bass
What is the "treble clef"?
the sign placed on a staff to indicate the notes above middle C
The bass enters first. At what point does the first violin enter?
0:13
Listen now to more of the composition. The bass is highly repetitious as the pattern recurs again and again. Each statement of the pattern lasts approximately how long?
12 seconds
The refrain now disappears, and we hear contrasting music featuring the strings. How many beats does this contrasting music contain?
16
The two sections have the same number of beats. Specifically, each of the two sections has how many beats?
16
8 Which period is known as the Classical Period?
1750-1820
Which of the following analogies is a POOR illustration of the relationship between meter and rhythm in music?
A U.S. dollar is divided into ten dimes; a dime is divided into 100 pennies.
Which statement best applies to opera?
All of the above apply equally well.
Finally, most listeners would agree that Josquin's Ave Maria is a soothing auditory experience, an appropriate companion for the image of the Virgin Mary within the Roman Catholic Church. Which single answer best suggests why?
All of the above suggest why.
Baroque arts in general are characterized by the adjectives grandiose, dramatic, and monumental. The following statements describe how these style characteristics could be achieved in Baroque opera. However, one of these statements is confused about this. Which answer below is a POOR method for achieving the Baroque style in music?
Enlarge the percussion section of the opera orchestra, so that dramatic affects depicting storms, armies marching, and knife stabs are unmistakable. The demise of equal-voiced polyphony meant that unpitched percussion, although still obstinate, was no longer problematic.
Which of the following comparisons of Hildegard of Bingen and Beatriz, Countess of Dia, is NOT true?
Hildegard used plain, unadorned words, so as to keep a spiritual mood in her chant. Beatriz created poetry about flowers and nature, so as to please elegant courtiers.
Which of the following is true about the "Spring" Concerto?
It has a basso continuo but no basso ostinato.
Which of the following, as appropriate for a lament, is true of this aria?
It is in a minor key and a slow tempo.
The following statements compare medieval music with modern Western music (as presented in Chapters 2 and 3). Which statement below is a POOR comparison of medieval music with modern music?
Medieval music notation could indicate the melody and harmony. Modern music notation indicates the rhythm and dissonance.
Identify the INCORRECT statement regarding Mozart's life in Vienna during the 1780s.
Mozart was responsible for an orchestra that was never larger than twenty-five musicians and saw to it that all musicians appeared in uniform and followed instructions.
Which composers are representative of the Classical period?
Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert
In the Middle Ages, religious music was heard in chapels, cathedrals, monasteries, and convents. Secular music, including dances and songs by troubadours and trouvères, were heard in castles, taverns, and public squares. By Handel's day, this division was breaking down. Which of the following statements represents a POOR example of religious music becoming increasingly secular in the eighteenth century?
Oratorios featured Renaissance dance pieces between each chorus, some of which were also used in royal processional music.
Which of the following paradoxes is NOT found in seventeenth-century opera and instrumental music (as described in Chapter 6)?
Paradox 2: In the earliest operas, the orchestra played first, in order to set the rhythm and tempo for the ballets to follow. This led to many ritornellos in opera, to remind the aria singers of the rhythm and tempo of their ballet steps.
Identify the INCORRECT statement regarding Handel's oratorios.
Performances were staged with costumes and scenery.
In Chapter 1, many characteristics of popular music and classical music are discussed. These characteristics are compared and contrasted. Now try to sum them up. Which one of the following comparative statements is a POOR representation of how popular music and classical music compare?
Popular music is characterized by new songs with lyrics that are words used by people today. Classical music has no lyrics, and therefore no contemporary language, and uses acoustic instruments (no electrical amplification) with such weak volume that the audience has to sit still to be able to hear these old instruments.
The three types of music (style and/or texture) in three of the following choices are in the pattern monophony—homophony—polyphony. Which choice does NOT follow that pattern?
Renée Fleming singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl as the band plays—children singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in unison as the band plays—two bands in two cities playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" together in a simulcast
Which statement about Antonio Vivaldi is INCORRECT?
Since his father disapproved of music, he quietly practiced the violin in the attic in order to avoid discovery.
Which is true about the nature of the string melody during the B section?
Sometimes it repeats phrases from the A section.
Which of the following sequences of functions is part of the process of musical cognition?
Sounds enters the inner ear and are recognized as electrochemical impulses by the basilar membrane, from where they move on through the primary auditory nerve to the temporal lobe of the brain. The basilar membrane sends acoustic vibrations to the inner ear, where the brainstem measures frequencies of up to 256 vibrations per minute.
Which musical tradition was NOT influential in the development of Mozart's musical style?
Spanish flamenco
Which correctly identifies the ways in which our modern recording of the "Hallelujah" chorus differs from the performance practices of Handel's time?
The chorus is much larger, and women sing the alto and soprano chorus parts.
Which of the following does NOT occur when music generates emotion in a listener?
The desire to dance is not generated by the limbic system; rather, it is the occipital lobe that does this.
Identify the one statement about Vivaldi's Violin Concerto in E major (the "Spring") that is NOT correct.
The first movement is in binary form and prominently features the oboes and bassoon in the tutti section.
Which is true about Mouret's Rondeau?
The majority of the music is the refrain of the rondo.
Notice that the top staff and middle staff have some notes in common, but the line in the bottom staff is quite different. Three of the following statements can be logically extrapolated from this musical example. Which one CANNOT—which one is not true?
The top staff recalls the ornate ceilings of Baroque churches. Such ceilings would have rows of columns to support them. The line in the bottom staff is the one that is ornamented in the top system.
Which of the following musical procedures did Bach use in his fugues as well as his Brandenburg Concertos?
The use of a theme, or, in a fugue, a subject, in a number of settings (varied entries) in different keys. Episodes were used between the entries of themes or subjects to modulate from one key to another. The final episode modulated back to the home key.
From 1781 until his death in 1791, Mozart lived almost exclusively in which city?
Vienna
Identify the statement that does NOT apply to Vienna during the late eighteenth century.
Vienna was the largest city in Europe.
Which composition is an example of the late Baroque church cantata?
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme by Bach
Identify the INCORRECT statement about Water Music.
Water Music is an example of a concerto grosso.
What is a "castrato"?
a boy or adult singer who was castrated to keep his voice from changing so that it would remain in the soprano register
Do instruments accompany the voices in this performance? If not, what is this style of performance called?
a cappella
The "triad" is
a chord consisting of three pitches and two intervals of a third.
The correct definition of "orchestral score" is
a composite of musical lines of all the orchestral instruments, from which a conductor conducts
Which statement accurately defines "motet"?
a composition for choir setting a religious, devotional, or solemn text
Which quality contributed to the dynamic style of Classical music?
all of the above
Identify the definition that applies to "beat."
an even pulse in music that divides the passing of time into equal units
Now, the voices work toward a joyful climax on the word laetitia ("joy"), and Josquin expresses the meaning of this passage by writing music that does what?
ascends and then descends in an excited fashion
The emotional high point in this aria (and the opera) comes when the singer reaches her highest notes and loudest dynamic. When does this occur?
at the second and final statement of the musical phrase beginning "Remember me"
In the following excerpt, is the BEGINNING of statement 7 of the subject heard in clip a or clip b?
b. (the one that is louder)
Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, 1st movement
b. (the one where the first 3 notes stay the same then ends with a down note)
Strophe 1: The solo voice is accompanied by a
basso continuo.
Finally, notice that each of the polyphonic sections takes longer to perform than the monophonic sections. Why is that the case?
because singing the tenor in longer notes in the polyphony causes the music to be drawn out
The instruments sounding, or "touched" (from the Italian toccata), most prominently here are the
brasses
The opening stanza of Ave Maria contains eight words divided into four syntactical units (units of meaning): Ave Maria—gratia plena—dominus tecum—virgo serena. Josquin clarifies the meaning of the text by grouping the words in pairs. How does he do this?
by assigning each pair of words first to the soprano and then to the other voices
Handel, "Hallelujah" chorus, from Messiah
c. (High, low, slightly higher, same low)
All of the statements below apply to Bach's career in Cöthen EXCEPT which one?
c. He wrote operas for the prince of Cöthen's private theater.
(1:48-2:09) Now the harpsichord has taken over entirely, to play a
cadenza
Listen to phrase 3 of the pavane, which is also stated and then repeated with ornamentation. As you will hear, phrase 3 and its repetition consist of four sections altogether. Select the sequence of sections that best describes the feeling of the music.
complete-incomplete-complete-incomplete
Identify the INCORRECT statement about the Messe de Nostre Dame.
composed by Chaucer for performance during Christmas Mass in the newly constructed cathedral of Paris, Notre Dame
(0:22-0:33) The small group of instruments playing here is called the
concertino
Which of the following does NOT create a "reassuring return to stability" in musical repetition?
continually enlivening the work with musical creativity
In variation 5B, the theme is varied by means of
descending chromaticism.
Which term applies to the following example?
dissonance
Mozart, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, 1st movement
duple
Which definition is correct for "Alberti bass"?
instead of having the pitches of a chord sound all together, notes are played in succession to provide a continual stream of sound
The trio moving back to the minuet involves a transition from
minor mode to major mode.
First of all, focus on the tempo and the meter. This rondo sounds appropriate for a royal procession because it is in a
moderate tempo and duple meter.
This type of early Baroque expressive solo singing above a chordal accompaniment is called a
monody
Musorgsky, "Promenade," from Pictures at an Exhibition (8 second one)
monophonic
Does the basso continuo play during this solo section?
no
Now Bach repeats the entire A section of the chorale tune, but setting a new text. Have the positions of the three musical lines in A—violins on top, tenors in the middle, and double basses and cellos on the bottom—been changed during the repeat of A?
no
The structure of the pavane was consistent and easy to hear with regard to incomplete and complete musical phrases. What about the galliard? Is the incomplete-complete sequence equally easy to hear in its phrases?
no
The Agincourt carol is important in music history because
of all of the other answers.
How many statements of the basso ostinato sound before the voice enters?
one
The new comic opera, the opera of the middle class, in Italy was called
opera buffa.
The correct definition for "syncopation" is
placing an accent on a weak beat or between the beats.
Bach, Organ Fugue in G minor
polyphonic
Kyrie eleison (1 min one)
polyphony
Kyrie eleison (the 39 second one)
polyphony
Kyrie eleison (the 58 seconds one)
polyphony
In variation 8, Mozart changes the texture to
polyphony with imitation.
It usually makes use of a text or "lyric" to convey its meaning.
popular music
What is an introductory, improvisatory-like movement that gives the performer a chance to warm up and sets the stage for a more substantive subsequent movement? It functions as does a prequel.
prelude
The opening instrumental section of the aria is called a
recitativo
Identify the statement that does NOT apply to the late Baroque church cantata.
since it was a liturgical drama, the singers wore elaborate costumes, but the scenery was minimal due to its church setting
Which genre uses ritornello form?
solo concerto
Identify the phrase that applies to harmony during the early Baroque era.
stable, diatonic chords played by basso continuo support melody; clearly defined chord progressions begin to develop; tonality reduced to major and minor keys
"Opera seria" is best defined as a(n)
stage work making use of a serious historical or mythological subject, usually in three acts.
In variation 5A, the theme is varied by means of
syncopation.
Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Reed Pipes" from The Nutcracker is composed in
ternary form.
Ritornello part 1 is immediately repeated pianissimo, as is ritornello part 2. Abrupt shifts in dynamics, typical of the Baroque era, are called what?
terraced dynamics
During the Baroque era, musicians used three distinct techniques to heighten musical contrast: clear alternations between major and minor keys, abrupt changes in orchestration, and
terraced dynamics.
What do you conclude from the preceding two questions?
that dance music is predictable
What is a chorale?
the German word for the hymn of the Lutheran church; hence, a simple religious melody to be sung by the congregation
What is the process described by the term "modulation"?
the change in tonal center from one key to another
"Meter" is defined as
the gathering of beats into regular groups.
Which idea did NOT emerge during the Enlightenment?
the importance of communicating passion no matter what sort of imbalance, contradiction, or formal inconsistency might result
The "octave" is
the interval comprising the first and eighth tones of the Western major and minor scale.
What is meant by the term "accelerando"?
the musical instruction to increase the tempo of the musical performance
Identify the correct definition of "exposition" in the context of a fugue.
the opening section, in which each voice in turn has the opportunity to present the subject
The "pianoforte" is
the original name for the piano.
What is meant by the term "venue" with regard to musical performance?
the place where music is performed
"Imitation" is best defined as
the process by which one or more musical voices, or parts, enter and duplicate exactly for a period of time the music presented by the previous voice.
Identify the correct definition for "word painting."
the process of depicting the text in music, be it subtly, overtly, or even jokingly, by means of expressive musical devices
Identify the correct definition of "melodic sequence."
the repetition of a musical motive at successively higher or lower degrees of the scale
What does the term "simple recitative" indicate?
the soloist is accompanied by the basso continuo alone
"Tempo" refers to
the speed at which beats occur.
Which answer best defines the "dominant triad"?
the triad built on the fifth degree of the major or minor scale
Mozart used __________ form for his composition, "Ah, vous dirai-je Maman," (known today as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star")
theme and variations form
Chopin, Waltz in Eb major
triple
Handel, Minuet, from Water Music
triple
Haydn, Symphony No. 94, 3rd movement
triple
Are all the pitches within the pattern of the bass held for the same duration?
yes
Do all phrases have the same number of beats?
yes
When the voice enters, does the rest of the orchestra (strings) enter as well?
yes
Now, a more lyrical new theme begins in the violins and is echoed by the winds. But has the opening motive (SSSL) really disappeared? (Listen carefully with good equipment.)
No, it lurks below the new melody.
Judging from the audio clips you have heard here, at any time throughout this movement is the three-line texture (bass, choral tune, string melody) augmented by the addition of woodwinds and brasses?
No; once Bach decides upon his three-strand texture, he maintains it rigorously to the end.
In view of the statement in the textbook that "outside the walls of the cathedral was yet another musical world," what is remarkable about the Hans Memling painting of angels playing musical instruments, shown in Figure 4.8?
The angels, symbols of divine worship, are playing secular instruments as well as the organ, which was used in monasteries, convents, and cathedrals.
Which answer best describes a "trill"?
a rapid alternation of two neighboring pitches
The Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1563, initiating the Counter Reformation. Revisit a sample of this chapter's music by rehearing Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina "Kyrie.". Which of the following statements does NOT represent the influence of the Renaissance in the pure style of Counter-Reformation music?
The Council of Trent wanted only serene, monophonic melodies painted in music notation, similar to the paintings in the Sistine Chapel.
The madrigal is best described as:
a popular genre of secular vocal music, originating in Italy, in which four or five voices sing love poems
What is "melody"?
a series of notes arranged in order to form a distinctive, recognizable musical unit; the tune
Identify the correct definition of "motive."
a short, distinctive melodic figure that stands by itself
Which response is the correct definition of "cadenza"?
a showy passage for the soloist in a concerto that usually incorporates rapid runs, arpeggios, and snippets of previously heard themes into a fantasy-like improvisation
What is the "bass clef"?
a sign placed on a staff to indicate the notes below middle C
Identify what is meant by the term "vibrato."
a slight and continual wobbling of the pitch produced on a string instrument
What is the definition of basso continuo?
a small ensemble of at least two instrumentalists that provides a foundation for the melody above, heard almost exclusively in Baroque music
What is a "chord progression"?
a succession of chords moving forward in a purposeful fashion
Identify the correct definition of "subject."
a term for the principal theme in a fugue
Identify the correct definition for the term "concerto grosso."
a three-movement composition that pits the sound of a small group of soloists against that of the full orchestra
"Key" is defined as
a tonal center built on a tonic note and making use of a scale.
During this passage, as the bass plays the end of the subject, what does the soprano execute against it?
a trill
Identify the correct definition of "chord."
a unit of two or more pitches that sound at the same time
The three movements for chorus from Bach's cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme are based on the text and melody of a sixteenth-century
chorale
It is primarily instrumental music, in which meaning is communicated through a language of musical sounds and gestures.
classical music
It relies on preset musical notation and is to a certain extent a "fixed entity," meaning that it does not change significantly between different performances.
classical music
Musical pieces can be lengthy and involve a variety of moods, requiring the listener to concentrate over a long period of time.
classical music
The rhythmic "beat" often rests beneath the surface of this kind of music.
classical music
Is the pattern in this melodic sequence rising or falling?
rising
This passage is a statement of (the 13 second one)
the chorus.
Now the refrain returns but only one section of it. Which section is it?
the complete-sounding section
Which answer provides the correct definition for "texture"?
the density and disposition of the musical lines that make up a musical composition
This listening excerpt (from Handel's Messiah) is most like which section from another musical genre?
the exposition of a fugue
The Ordinary of the Mass refers to
the five sung portions of the Mass for which the texts are invariable.
What is meant by the term "tutti"?
the full orchestra or full performing force
When the trumpets rise, how many different pitches do they play?
three
Just as Monteverdi prescribed it, with this playing, we have now heard the music of the toccata performed
three times.
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, 1st movement
duple
The text sets the scene of this madrigal at the top of Latmos Hill, a mountain in Greek mythology. At the beginning, we hear sounds that are what?
generally high, with female voices predominating
Dvořák, Symphony No. 9, "From the New World," 2nd movement
homophonic
In what kind of musical texture do the voices sing when they enter with "Hallelujah"?
homophonic
Josquin makes the final word Amen clearly audible by using which musical texture?
homophonic
The chords generated by the instruments create which type of texture?
homophonic
Identify the texture of the listening example. (17 second one)
homophony
What is the texture of the music at the words "Leaving their goddess"?
homophony
Which term best describes the texture of the listening example?
imitative counterpoint
[4:07-4:24] When the chorus enters, it does so
in all of the listed ways.
Which definition accurately describes the term "forte"?
in musical notation, a dynamic mark indicating "loud"
What is a "figured bass"?
in musical notation, a numerical shorthand that tells the player which unwritten notes to fill in above the written bass note
In the twelfth and last variation, Mozart presents the theme
in triple meter and major mode.
The opening statement of the rondo refrain consists of two sections, one sounding complete, the other incomplete. What is their order?
incomplete-complete
Listen to phrase 1 of the pavane, which is stated and then repeated with ornamentation. As you will hear, phrase 1 and its repetition consist of four sections altogether. Select the sequence of sections that best describes the feeling of the music.
incomplete-complete-incomplete-complete
Listen to phrase 2 of the pavane, which is also stated and then repeated with ornamentation. As you will hear, phrase 2 and its repetition consist of four sections altogether. Select the sequence of sections that best describes the feeling of the music.
incomplete-complete-incomplete-complete
Bach sets the chorale tune in notes that are which?
longer (and hence sound slower) than those of the strings, thereby making the chorale tune more audible
Musorgsky, "Great Gate of Kiev," from Pictures at an Exhibition
major
Which voice joyfully sings the final laetitia ("joy")?
male alto
Identify the mode of the listening example. (12 second one)
minor
Musorgsky, "Polish Ox-Cart," from Pictures at an Exhibition
minor
Tchaikovsky, "Dance of the Reed Pipes," from The Nutcracker
minor
Which term is synonymous with "Gregorian chant"?
plainsong
In variation 2, Mozart
plays the theme above and decorates the bass below.
Bach, The Art of Fugue, Contrapunctus IX
polyphonic
Josquin Desprez, Ave Maria
polyphonic
Identify the texture of the listening example. (23 second one)
polyphony
During this passage, what does the bass (in a high register) play?
a pedal point
The basses (double basses and cellos) play only quarter notes on the beat, with each beat lasting about one second, until they begin to move more quickly in eighth notes at the end of the passage. Where does that change to eighth notes begin?
0:34
Different, contrasting string music now enters. This contrasting section contains how many beats?
40
Which statement does NOT apply to Haydn's early years?
Because Haydn displayed great musical talent as a child, his father forced the boy to practice at all hours with the intent of exploiting him as a child prodigy.
Identify the best answer among the three below. Which of the following "recipes" is most likely to create enjoyable music and a satisfying musical composition?
Both "recipes" will create enjoyable music. One (1) starts with rhythm and grows into melody and harmony; the other (2) starts with a series of pitches and grows into tonality (scale and harmony), rhythm and meter, and melody.
Students learning a new language are taught how to use sentence patterns, in which the words serving as subject, verb, and other parts of speech are changed to express various thoughts. Which of the following statements describes a comparable structuring in Baroque music?
By the mid-Baroque, the basso continuo method had developed a number of standard chord progressions. Over the well-defined structure of these progressions, melodic phrases could be varied, mixed, and repeated as needed for the desired musical expression.
What language is mainly sung here?
English
What might account for the eternal popularity of the "Hallelujah" chorus?
Handel exploits a clear, emphatic setting of the English text and a few powerful gestures to create a variety of exciting textures and styles.
Which of the following scenarios did NOT occur during the Renaissance?
Michelangelo's David demonstrated how an artist might transform a human into a god. Similarly, Renaissance composers followed the designs of classical architecture to express words that imagined humans as gods.
Compare the title page of Handel's opera Julius Cæsar (shown in Fig. 9.4) with the print The Oratorio Singer by William Hogarth (Fig. 9.6). Which of the following statements best describes the satirical contrasts between these two illustrations?
London's population was as diverse as refined aristocracy and fortune seekers of lowly origins. In a similar contrast, the opera seria title page features herald angels, while the Hogarth print shows uncouth commoners who don't even know to face the conductor.
Identify the answer that correctly identifies the listening example. (the 28 second one)
Machaut, Kyrie of the Messe de Nostre Dame
Which of the following is a therapeutic function of music, and why?
Many kinds of music induce euphoria because they bring about a chemical change in the brain.
Working from largest to smallest, which is the correct sequence of sections in a Renaissance Mass?
Mass, movement of Ordinary of the Mass, passage of movement of the Ordinary, measure
Whenever a major cultural change occurs, such as the change from the medieval understanding of heaven and earth, to the Renaissance interest in classical forms and humanism, cultural contradictions and inconsistencies will appear. The lists below describe some contradictions within Renaissance culture; however, one is a FALSE statement. Which one is it?
Medieval Europe was deeply spiritual. The Renaissance, on the other hand, abandoned religion in favor of Greek mythology.
What was the purpose of the Council of Trent?
NOT* all of the above
Review the list of six ways in which classical music and popular music differ, in Chapter 1 under "Popular and Classical Music Compared." The era of music presented in Chapter 10 is the "deep background" from which the modern split between classical and popular music emerged. Three of the following four statements describe lines of development in music over the past 250 years. Which statement does NOT?
NOT* either one that ends with guitar or silence.
You are in control of all components of a hymn in homophonic texture. You want to vary the piece so that it sounds different, but maintain the homophonic texture. Which of the following can you NOT do?
Set one voice rhythmically and melodically out of sync with the others and assign an instrument to it that is different from those assigned to the other voices.
Which of the following is true?
The performance of this madrigal is a cappella, with one singer to a part.
In what way does Handel's Water Music, though originally not intended for dancing, retain a characteristic of dance music?
The phrase structure, unlike much Baroque melody, is highly regular (symmetrical).
The area of the brain known as the primary auditory cortex processes language as well as music, which suggests that there must be similarities shared by speech and music. Which of the following statements is a POOR example of these shared similarities?
The primary auditory cortex processes sounds according to the overtone series only in infants. As children learn the language and music of their respective cultures, other lobes of the brain assume the processing of language and music.
Which answer correctly describes the rhythm of Classical period music?
The rhythm becomes more stop-and-go, and there is greater rhythmic variety within a single movement.
What happens at the end of the minuet?
There is a noticeable ritard.
If no coda is added, how do the performers signal that the piece is coming to an end?
They play with a ritard at the end.
What is the correct definition of "canon"?
a contrapuntal form in which the individual voices enter and each in turn duplicates exactly the melody that the first voice played or sang
At the very last chord, a crashing, percussive sound is added for emphasis—to signal that this is indeed the last chord of the climax. What instrument is making that sound?
a cymbal
Which answer best describes "glissando"?
a device of sliding up or down the scale very quickly
"Dissonance" describes
a discordant mingling of sounds, resulting in harmonic tension that ultimately seeks resolution.
What is a "comic opera"?
a genre of opera originating in the eighteenth century that portrayed everyday characters and situations , used spoken dialogue and simple songs, and often included sight gags, bawdy humor, and social satire
What is an "ostinato"?
a musical figure, motive, melody, harmony, or rhythm that is repeated again and again
What is the definition of "theme and variations"?
a musical form in which a theme continually returns but is varied by changing the notes of the melody, the harmony, the rhythm, or some other feature of the music
Which definition is appropriate for "strophic form"?
a musical form often used in setting a strophic, or stanzaic, text, such as a hymn or carol; the music is repeated anew for each successive strophe
What is "monophony"?
a musical texture involving only a single line of music with no accompaniment
"Tremolo" is
a musical tremor produced on a string instrument by repeating the same pitch with quick up and down strokes of the bow.
The term "pedal point" describes
a note, usually in the bass, sustained or continually repeated for a period of time while the harmonies change around it.
Haydn, Symphony No. 94, 2nd movement
a. (the one that climbs until the last note)
In the following excerpt, is the BEGINNING of statement 9 of the subject heard in clip a or clip b?
a. (the one that does not end with 2 different notes)
In variation 4, the theme sounds clearly
above in the right hand while the left hand plays triplets below.
Identify the phrase that best applies to "aria."
all of the above
Which definition of "harmony" is accurate?
all of the above
Beethoven, Für Elise
b. (the second longest one)
In this passage, what do we hear?
both other answers
Again, Handel offers a passage of imitative writing, with a new subject. In what order do the voices enter?
bass, tenor, alto, soprano
What is the standard musical form of Baroque period dance movements?
binary
Which musical form is represented by the following patterns of letters? AB—AABB—ABA—ABACABA—AA1A2A3A4
binary form—binary with repeats—ternary form—rondo—theme and variations
Kyrie eleison (the 15 second one)
chant
Which characteristic does NOT apply to the art and music of the Baroque period?
calm, symmetrical organization of events
In the following excerpt, is the BEGINNING of statement 5 of the subject heard in clip a or clip b?
clip a (the 4 second one)
In the following excerpt, is the BEGINNING of statement 6 of the subject heard in clip a or clip b?
clip a (the one that starts with 2 high notes)
Which term is synonymous with "timbre"?
color
What is the meaning of "idiomatic writing"?
exploiting the strengths, special abilities, and color of a particular instrument or voice while avoiding its weaknesses
Although Hildegard of Bingen was married to Count William of Poitiers, she loved the troubadour Raimbaut d'Orange, for whom she composed numerous chansons.
false
O rubor sanguinis and A chantar m'er are both examples of Gregorian chant.
false
While Haydn toured Europe to acquire fame and fortune, what actually happened was that his compositions increased in breadth and substance because of his exposure to a wealth of musical styles.
false
Identify the term that does NOT apply to the fugue.
figured bass
During this same passage, how many statements of the basso ostinato are performed?
four
In variation 8, Mozart changes the mode of the theme
from the previous major now to minor.
In variation 3, the theme
is disguised by triplets above in the right hand.
Which of the following terms represents a slow tempo?
lento
Student choice (no "correct" answer): How do you feel about the end of the opening section, compared to the beginning?
less anxious and more self-confident
Every human being has an idea (or a master plan) of what music should sound like, how it should go, and whether the music sounds good or bad. The term for this is
musical template.
Now, continue listening all the way to the end of the work. Does Pachelbel ever vary his bass and his harmonic pattern?
no
The Counter-Reformation in Western history provided
reform of spiritual and financial practices within the Roman Catholic Church.
The Protestant Reformation is important in Western history because it
removed the monopoly that the Roman Catholic Church had on official religion in the West, giving rise to competing religious groups.
How did composers treat melody during the Classical period?
short, balanced phrases create tuneful melodies; more vocal than instrumental in character
Is the recitative a simple recitative (accompanied only by the instruments of the basso continuo) or an accompanied recitative?
simple
Identify the meter of the listening example. (the 8 second one)
triple
Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet (the 9 second one)
triple
During the Enlightenment, also referred to as the Age of Reason, thinkers gave free reign to the pursuit of truth and the discovery of natural laws.
true
(0:00-0:21) The full group heard at the beginning playing the ritornello is called the
tutti
Just as Monteverdi prescribed, we hear the ritornello played
twice
How many times does the voice sing the musical phrase, "Remember me, but ah! Forget my fate," and how many statements of the basso ostinato accompany it?
twice, four
How many lines or voice parts do you hear?
two
In the return of the minuet, there are no repeats, but how many phrases and measures are there?
two phrases of eight measures
This verse, as with all verses in the Agincourt carol, is sung by
two soloists.
The correct definition for "a cappella" is:
unaccompanied vocal music
When identifying musical style, the listener should match the
unknown with the known.
How does Mouret's Rondeau end?
with the conclusion of the complete section of the refrain
As Handel composes music for the text, "is risen," he creates a fine example of
word painting.
What might be the purpose of repetition in music?
to convey musical "signposts" and give the listener a sense of comfort and security
Hildegard of Bingen was a playwright, poet, naturalist, pharmacologist, abbess, and spiritual visionary as well as a composer.
true
In the Kyrie of the Messe de Nostre Dame, passages of chant alternate with sections of four-part polyphony.
true
The solo concerto and concerto grosso are virtually identical genres, with the exception that the concerto grosso features multiple soloists while the solo concerto has only one.
true
In a brilliant stroke, Handel sets off and highlights the final statement of "Hallelujah" (and the final cadence) by inserting a new kind of texture. Which of the following statements is correct?
Handel inserts the texture of silence.
All of the following statements regarding the early years of Mozart are accurate EXCEPT that:
Mozart's father served as court composer to Joseph II of Austria, and he later gave composition lessons to Beethoven.
Identify the statement that does NOT apply to Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.
NOT* Bach completed this concerto while working for the Prince of Cöthen.
Which composition is an example of a solo concerto?
NOT* Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
Why do you suppose this piece remains one of the most famous works in the repertoire of classical music?
NOT* The lilting string melody has clear-cut phrases yet continually presses forward.
During this passage, what does the tenor play?
NOT* a pedal point
When and where did Baroque music first appear?
NOT* around 1475, in Paris
Identify the musical term that describes what the bass line is playing in the listening example.
NOT* cadenza
Which Baroque genre opens with a section called the "exposition"?
NOT* church cantata
What is the most distinctive feature of the concerto grosso?
NOT* consistency of melodic and rhythmic gestures
Debussy, Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun
NOT* homophonic
How many lines or voice parts do you hear during the second half of this musical phrase?
NOT* one
A melody, harmony, or rhythm that repeats again and again in music is called what?
NOT* pizzicato
What is a "toccata"?
NOT* recitative that is accompanied only by the basso continuo
Classical instrumental pieces almost always end with the full orchestra playing so as to create a sense of concluding grandeur. Monteverdi concludes his Prologue with
NOT* the final strophe.
As the four voices enter, which texture gradually emerges?
NOT*monophonic
Identify the INCORRECT statement concerning As Vesta Was from Latmos Hill Descending.
A consort of string instruments was expected to support the singers.
Which of the following statements is an INCORRECT comparison of Monteverdi's Orfeo and Purcell's Dido and Aeneas?
NOT* Orfeo is an attempt to revive ancient Greek drama, with music, but it presents Orpheo and Euridice as little more than singing statues. In Dido and Aeneas, on the other hand, the title characters are history as much as mythology, and Dido seems like a real person, thanks to Purcell's emotionally explicit music.
A bass that plods along in equal note values moving in predominantly stepwise motion is called what?
NOT* a basso continuo
Which answer provides the correct definition for "homophony"?
NOT* a musical texture involving only a single line of music with no accompaniment
Identify the correct statement about the minor scale.
NOT* a seven-note scale
When do the trumpets enter?
NOT* after about 8 seconds
Which term best describes the melodic style of the listening example?
NOT* episodes
What is the texture at the words "Then sang the shepherds"?
NOT* monophony
According to the textbook, musical style "is an amalgam of all the surface details of the music." Which of the following determinations is NOT about such a "surface detail"?
NOT* whether the texture is monophonic, homophonic, or polyphonic
In this passage, Beethoven constructs a musical transition that moves us from the opening motive to a more lyrical second theme. Which is true about this transition?
The music seems to get faster and builds in volume.
In this monody with strophes and a ritornello, which function(s) more like a chorus in a pop song—the strophes or the ritornello?
The ritornello functions like a chorus because it comes back again and again, always with the same music.
Which definition for "measure" is correct?
a group of beats that serves as a continual unit of measurement in music
What voice type is singing this aria?
alto
Kyrie eleison (the 16 second one)
chant
What is the accompaniment (here in the treble, or right hand, of the pianist) playing in this listening example (especially towards the end)?
chords
Fame of the piece is associated with the composer, not the performer.
classical music
In the following excerpt, is the BEGINNING of statement 8 of the subject heard in clip a or clip b?
clip a (the one that starts with 3 long notes)
What information does the lower number in a "meter signature" ("time signature") convey to the performer of a piece of music?
which note value receives the beat
Listen again to the entire pavane. Do all the sections that you have identified as incomplete end on the same pitch?
yes
The galliard, too, consists of three phrases. Is each of the three phrases repeated?
yes
How does Beethoven add intensity and variety to the conclusion of the transition?
A pounding drum (timpani) is added to the orchestra, and then a French horn plays a solo.
The Doctrine of Affections deals with the representation of thoughts and emotions (affects) in music; different kinds of music can produce different emotional changes in the listener. Reflect on the music you have studied in Chapters 6, 7, and 8; then read the statements below. Choose the statement that best describes the role of the Doctrine of Affections in Baroque music.
The development of colorful, florid singing in opera and technical virtuosity in instrumental solos brought the performer center stage in any performance of Baroque music. The performer and the more overtly expressive content of the music worked hand in hand to convince the listener of what he or she should feel at every moment.
Suppose you were to attend a concert of orchestral music in an aristocratic palace in Italy or Germany in 1724. Which of the following statements describes a musical structure or form you would likely hear?
The orchestra begins playing a theme all together. Soon, three or four instruments of that orchestra (including the harpsichord) play the theme, but with some elaboration on it. Then the full orchestra plays an abbreviated form of the theme. This pattern of alternation is repeated a number of times and in a number of keys until the end of the movement is reached, in the home key.
Identify the one statement about A chantar m'er that is correct.
The song has no clearly articulated meter or rhythm but is sung in notes of more or less equal length.
What is a symphony?
a genre of instrumental music for orchestra consisting of several movements; also, the orchestral ensemble that plays this genre
Schubert, Symphony No. 9, 1st movement
c. (The one where the 2 sets of three notes are both going up)
Mouret, Rondeau from Suite de symphonies
duple
Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet (18 second one)
duple
Listen to the opening section of Josquin's Ave Maria and identify the statement that does NOT describe the passage.
in triple meter
Prokofiev, "Dance of the Knights," from Romeo and Juliet
minor
Vivaldi, Violin Concerto, the "Spring," 1st movement
minor
Now, we're at the very end of the Agincourt carol. As with pop songs in strophic form with verse and chorus today, this medieval song ends with
the chorus, to engage all singers and end in an emphatic, climactic way.
(0:22-0:33) The instruments that dominate in this passage are the
violin and flute (recorder).
