MUS 151
In what decade did new technologies - such as digital tape recorders, CDs, synthesizers, samplers, and sequencers - become central to popular music?
1980s
Which branch of a record company would seek out talent, often visiting nightclubs and rehearsals to hear new groups?
A&R
What does A&R stand for?
Artist and Repertoire
All of the following are old forms of musical technology except for which?
MP3 players
Which style of 1960s rock 'n' roll was founded in the "motor town" Detroit, Michigan?
Motown
All of the following functions served doo-wop group members, particularly those in Washington, D.C., and New York, except for which?
a way to earn a full scholarship at university
What might it signify when a musician rejects new musical technology?
an emblem of authentically allowing musicians to demonstrate their "real" musical ability
Which cultural generation dominated the audience of rock 'n' roll music?
baby boomers
Which of the following bodies of music included a variety of musical styles?
both (race records and hillbilly music)
In popular music, which selection of the song's melody tends to have fewer notes?
chorus
In the American south, what was the term for early recordings of performances by southern white musicians?
hillbilly music
What was the culture - which included distinctive styles of visual art (graffiti), dance (breakdancing), music, dress and speech - that was forged by African-American and Carribean-American youth in 1970s New York?
hip-hop
Which of the following might not be included under the pseudo-genre "world music"?
hip-hop music from the Bronx in New York (rap)
In 2001, what musical technology device was introduced by Apple Computers?
iPod
Sometimes called "hard country," what is the postwar country music style described as conveying the sound and ethos of the roadside bar or juke joint?
honky-tonk
Which of the following is not a common effect used when mixing a popular song?
instrumentation
What is a common trait of bridges in regard to the instrumental arrangement?
instruments dropping out at the beginning of a bridge so that perhaps only one or two instruments (plus the melody) are playing
"hillbilly music" was later rechristened to what?
country and western music
The song It's a Sin, by Eddy Arnold, could be described as a "smooth, pop-oriented style," which sought to bring country music into the mainstream pop charts. Based on this description, what style of postwar country music might this song be?
country crooner
How might a musician who prefers analog recording describe its qualities?
more human
Of all genres of popular music, which has spurred the most vigorous public debate?
rap
Which of the following is not true about rap music?
rap was initially intended to educate white audiences about the black experience
Hip-hop was primarily a local phenomenon until which dance single indicated the genre's broader commercial potential in 1979?
rapper's delight, by the Sugarhill Gang
The rise of file-sharing on the internet came hand-in-hand with what kind of musical technology?
personal listening devices
Only one out of eight recordings make a profit for the record companies that produce them. How is it, then, that record companies are able to survive?
platinum records (which sell millions of copies) can make up for hundreds of failed projects
Some cultural observers had forecasted the demise of radio because of the rise of what medium?
podcasting
Observe that She's Not Just a Pretty Face, by Shania Twain, has indirect lyrics throughout. What technique is most prominently used to make these lyrics indirect?
point of view
From a structural standpoint, what might be a key element of hook writing?
repetition
What does R&B stand for?
rhythm and blues
What was the revolutionary event that began a new era in American popular culture on July 9, 1955?
rock around the clock, by Bill Haley and the Comets, became the first rock 'n' roll hit to reach the Number One position on the "best sellers in stores" chart
Kids of the late 1950s had their own distinctive culture and its associated rituals. Of these rituals, which is most strongly represented in the song School Days, by Chuck Berry?
school and vacation
The informal societal groups that hip-hop pioneers belonged to were associated with what commonality?
specific neighborhoods or blocks
The song Diaraby, from the album "Talking Timbuktu" has close affinities with the blues. Why might this be a natural occurrence?
the American blues styles were strongly influenced by the traditions of African slaves, many of whom came precisely from the West African region of Ali Farka Toure's people
World music emerged in the 1980s because of what market phenomenon in American popular music?
the global market for American popular music expanded and new alternative genres and audiences were able to grow as well
Which of the following is true about the intensity level, or shape, of most pieces of music?
the intensity level is constantly changing
All the following are decided by the arranger except for which?
the lyrics of the song
Why, in part, did collaborations between American and foreign musicians become more common by the 1990s?
the music industry became globalized
What issue was at the heart of the thorny legal problems that plagued MP3.com (founded in 1997)?
the practice of digitally reproducing music from a copyrighted compact disc and giving it away for free without the artist's or record company's permission arguably is illegal
In this recording of happy birthday, which technique is being shown?
the singer is squeezing the syllables into a single note many times
DJ Kool Herc discovered that his audience responded most energetically to what part of the music?
the so-called "breaks" where the melody was stripped away to feature the rhythm section
Listen to the song I'm Better (feat. Lamb), by Missy Elliot. How would you describe the texture of the arrangement?
the texture is thin
Which of the following answers best describes the term "timbre"?
the tone or quality of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds
Which of the following was an innovation that helped to shape the sound and sensibility of early hip-hop?
the transformation of the turntable into a playable musical instrument
Which of the following is true about "background vocals?"
they could consist of new or old melodic and/or lyric material
Rolling in the Deep, by Adele, which section is likely characterized as the "hook"?
"We could've had it all, rolling in the deep.."
"Race records" were produced mainly for sale to....
African-American listeners
The rural blues tradition of the Mississippi Delta floundered commercially after WWII. However, these traditions were reinvigorated, and reemerged in what post-WWII R&B style?
Chicago electric blues
The song Smokestock Lightnin' by Howlin' Wolf, is a blues song that features the use of the electric guitar. Howlin' Wolf's vocal style is rough, growling, moaning, and intensely emotional. Based on this description, which style of R&B is this song likely to be?
Chicago electric blues
Who was the biggest rock 'n' roll star to come from the country side of the music world?
Elvis Presley
The Okeh Record Company released a record featuring Mamie Smith performing two Perry Bradford songs, which led to the music industry's discovery of black music (and southern music in general). When was this record released?
July 1920
In the 1960s, there was a push for a newly sophisticated approach to various aspects of country music. This came to be known as "country-politan," or what other apt geographical name?
Nashville sound
The Grand Ole Opry House, the broadcasting site for the Grand Ole Opry radio program, was located just outside of which important country music hub?
Nashville, Tennesse
Capitol Records became the first major company to set up its country music operation in which US city?
Nashville, Tennessee
What is the name of this song, which features an instrumental melody?
Pizza, by Martin Garrix
Look at the lyrics to the chorus of Better Now, by Post Malone, (starting with "You prolly think that you are better now.."). What kind of rhyme structure is the first four lines?
a a a b
How does Untitled (How Does it Feel), by D'Angelo, end?
abrupt ending
In this clip of Am I Wrong, by Nico and Vinz (Chorus 3 (2:06)), what is included in this use of texture buildup?
background vocals
Blue Moon of Kentucky, by Bill Monroe, featured traditional American southern instrumentation and style, but had been adapted to a more modern setting. Based on this description, what style of postwar country music might this song be?
bluegrass
Which postwar country music style is described as reaching back into the musical traditions of the American South, refurbishing old styles to fit new circumstances?
bluegrass
The southern-derived styles of American rock 'n' roll in the mid-1950s was ultimately derived from what earlier style(s) of music?
blues and country music
Listen to the section of Into You, by Ariana Grande, that begins with the lyrics, "Tell me what you came here for.." This section starts with fewer instruments than previous sections and has a new melody and lyrics. At the end of this section, there is a small break, where all instruments, except for the melody, fade in volume. Based on this description, what is this section likely called?
bridge
All of the following are considered styles (or sub genres) of rock 'n' roll music, except for which?
country crooners
What is the term for the dense, buzzing tone colors, produced by the electric guitar in Chicago electric blues music?
distortion
The song Get a Job, by the Silhouettes, is primarily made up of a vocal harmony group. Based on this description, which style of R&B is this song likely to be?
doo-wop
In the mid-1950s, you could probably hear rock 'n' roll records being played everywhere except for where?
gatherings of influential politicians in Washington
Wildwood Flower, by the Carter Family, features many unique stringed timbres, including the autoharp. This song also features a special guitar technique where the guitarist plays the melody on the bass strings while brushing the upper strings on the off-beats for rhythm. Based on these facts, what kind of record might this have been?
hillbilly music
Choosing Time, by Little Jimmy Dickens, describes the scene of a local bar, and features the use of the steel guitar, fiddle, piano, and string bass. Based on this description, what style of postwar country music might this song be?
honky-tonk
Which of these styles of music would not have been typical of postwar era country music?
jump bands
The song Boogie Woogie Country Girl, by Big Joe Turner, features a small combo performing hard-swinging party music with humorous lyrics. Based on this description, which style of R&B is this song likely to be?
jump blues
What is interval type called when more than one white key on the piano is skipped?
leap
What is the name for a short melodic segment that often repeats?
melodic phrase
The Chicago Electric Blues scene was augmented, in part, by what cultural shift?
millions of rural migrants from the Mississippi Delta came to Chicago in search of employment
The last section of That's What I Like, by Bruno Mars, features the same musical and lyrical content as the previous choruses, but it occurs at the very end of the song. What might one assume this section of the song is called?
outro
What is another word for "ending"?
outro
Who Do You Love, by Quicksilver Messenger Service, is a late 1960s recording of a San Francisco Band. The song features heavily distorted guitars playing material influenced by folk and blues. Based on this description, which style of rock 'n' roll might this song be?
psychedelic rock
He's a Darn Good Man (To Have Hanging Round), by Alberta Hunter, was released on the Black Swan record label. Based on this fact, what kind of record might this have been?
race record
ezekiel saw de wheel, by the elkins-payne jubilee singers, was a gospel recording released on the Okeh record label. Based on this fact, what kind of record might this have been?
race record
In the American south, what was the term for the early recordings of performances by African-American musicians?
race records
The vocal effects on Alone Again, by the Weekend, are in a sense very "wet". Based on this terminology, you might infer that this track utilizes which effect?
reverb
What is the interval type from one white key to the next white key on the piano called?
step
What is the most common melodic interval?
step
Which societal group did rock 'n' roll transform into both a marketing concept and cultural icon?
teenagers
The generation that grew up with rock 'n' roll also grew up with what newly developed entertainment medium?
television
what new medium was crucial to the rapid growth of the hillbilly music market?
television
Listen to Don't Start Now, by Dua Lipa. Observe that new instruments have been added in the second verse (starting with the lyrics "Aren't you the guy who..") that were not present in the first verse (starting with the lyrics "Did a full one-eighty..") What arranging technique is used to create this effect?
texture buildup
In good 4 u, by Olivia Rodrigo, the song starts only with bass and ends with bass, distorted electric guitar, drums, vocals, and background vocals. Based on difference in instrumentation from the beginning to the end of the song, what might you assume about the intensity level of this song?
the intensity level is lower in the beginning that it is in the end
Some recordings featuring African-American artists were not classified as "race records." What, then, was the more discerning factor in making this classification?
the kind of audience the record would be marketed toward
In popular music, which part of a song is typically sung?
the melody
Which of the following is not a common characteristic of most contemporary popular music bridges?
the melody and lyrics of the bridge are recycled from the verse and/or chorus
Country music has always been about.....
the relationship between the countryside (home) and the city (migration)
The lyrical content of the song Fortunate Son, by Creedence Clearwater Revival, speaks strongly against the use of military actions. From which generation of rock 'n' roll is this song likely to be?
the second generation (1960s)
Which of the following is true about the song Slow Hands, by Niall Horan?
this song mainly utilizes elements from rock 'n' roll and other closely related sub-genres
In the song Havana, by Camilla Cabello, ft. Young Thug, elements of the Cuban cha-cha-cha can be found in the piano, while modern hip-hip elements are used in the drum and bass. How might one describe the resulting sound?
this song sounds more contemporary
In the song You Proof, by Morgan Wallen, many of the song's elements come from the "country" genre, but the drums, starting in the first chorus (0:32) contain elements of the "trap" sub-genre of hip hop. How might one describe the resulting sound?
this song sounds more contemporary
In the song Wagon Wheel, by Darius Rucker, each element of the song is from the "country and western" genre. How might one describe the resulting sound?
this song sounds more traditional
Which of the following techniques has been used by many of history's leading pop music innovators?
using a novel combination of established, old sounds
Which of the following techniques might make a song sound more traditional?
using elements from a single musical style
Which of the following techniques might make a song sound more contemporary?
using elements from different musical styles
The kinds of background vocals used in this clip of I Knew You Were Trouble, by Taylor Swift, is called what?
vocal ad-libs
In STOP TRYING TO BE GOD, by Travis Scott, several different "takes" or "performances" of the vocals are layered on top of one another to create a thick, rich sound. What is this technique called?
vocal doubling
Which of the following descriptions best characterizes postwar doo-wop groups?
vocal harmony groups
While the mid-1950s saw the birth of rock 'n' roll, what decade was witness to rock 'n' roll's second generation?
1960s
Who was the most successful and influential jump blues band leader?
Louis Jordan
Which of the following is not a common aspect of mastering?
blending
Roughly what number of people will have had a hand in producing the music we listen to?
hundreds
The song High Hopes, by Panic at the Disco, has which kind of ending?
abrupt ending
Listen to the chorus (or "hook") sections of Ms.Jackson, by Outkast. How would you characterize the phrase structure of the "hook"?
AB
Listen to the verse 1 of New Rules, by Dua Lipa. Note that each line of lyrics is one musical phrase. How would you characterize the phrase structure of verse 1?
ABAB
Who were the first hip-hop celebrities in the 1970s?
DJs who spun records at all kinds of private and public events
All of the following are true statements about the emergence of rock 'n' roll, except for which?
Each rock 'n' roll musician developed a particular loathing for the name of their newfound genre, and thus usually sought other, more traditional employment
Which of the following is true about the bridge of Shape of You, by Ed Sheeran?
There is a break at the end of the bridge wherein all instruments drop out and only the melody remains
What file formats are often used in the "transfer" process of mastering?
WAV or MP3
After what important historical event did country and western music mushroom in popularity?
World War II
Sales of record players and radios expanded significantly after which major historical event?
World War II
DJ Kool Herc's rhymes were based on a tradition of verbal performance called "toasting" Which of the following best defines "toasting"?
a form of poetic storytelling with roots in the trickster tales of West Africa
All of the following musical traits are indicative of rap's deep continuities with African-American music except for which?
a preference toward smooth background vocals and high-register piano
What is a "hook" in a pop song?
a short, catchy element of a song that is intended to get "stuck" in your head
How does Million Dollar Baby, by Ava Max, end?
abrupt ending
What is the term for adapting a song to fit a different, usually larger ensemble?
arranging
How does Life During Wartime, by Talking Heads (specifically from the album "Fear of Music") end?
fade in
What was the main reason jump bands developed during and after WWII?
big band leaders were forced to downsize their bands due to shortages during the war, in order to maintain a lucrative touring schedule
If jump bands represented the hot end of the R&B spectrum, what R&B style represented the cool end?
blue crooners
Bill Monroe, who started a group to perform the Grand Ole Opry radio program, performed mainly what style of music?
bluegrass
Listen to the Intro section to forever, by Charli XCX. The keyboard instrument has a fuzzy or harsh effect added to it. Which of these listed effects is being used most prominently?
distortion
What type of recording samples sound waves and breaks them down into a stream of numbers?
digital recording
What kind of record company tended to be more daring, searching out new talent and creating specialized niches in the musical mainstream?
independent (indie)
Which of the following do not fit under the "structure" aspect of popular music lyrics?
indirect lyrics
What is the distance between two notes called?
interval
In Every Breath You Take, by The Police, the song begins with the instruments playing the parts in the verse, but the vocals are not present. These are typical characteristics of which section?
intro
In popular music, the syllable to note ratio is typically....
one syllable to one note
From the 19th century until the 1920s, before the rise of radio, recordings, and movies as primary means for popularizing music, what was the primary was popular songs were distributed to a mass audience?
sheet music
What is interval type when only one white key is skipped?
skip
Because of the unique setting for Honky-Tonk music, musicians had to derive from southern music tradition in what way?
songs about family and the church seemed out of place, so musicians began to compose songs about topics that were more relatable to the clientele
Which of these styles of music would not have been typical of late 1940s and early 1950s R&B?
southern traditional bluegrass
"hillbilly" or "old-time" music was produced mainly for sale to.....
southern whites
Which musical technology device was common on jazz, R&B and rock records and was introduced in 1935?
the Hammond B-3 organ
Race records and hillbilly music both originated from which region of the United States?
the South
Which of the following is true about the bridge of That's What I Like, by Bruno Mars?
the bridge is a unique section, different than other sections of the song
What is it about the lyrics of the choruses of Shake It Off, by Taylor Swift, that make them hooks?
the ends of each phrase contain significant repetition
Which of the following is true about the song Wait, by Maroon 5?
this song combines elements of the pop sub-genre but burrows drum elements from hip hop
In addition to the production of popular music, what is the role of music business?
to shape the means by which music is transmitted to the consumer
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a vastly influential qawwali artist, began to create world music collaborations by experimenting in what way?
using nontraditional instruments and working with musicians outside the qawwali tradition
When multiple takes of a vocal track are spliced together, this is called...
vocal comping
In Penny Lane, by the Beatles, what technique is being used so that you hear two Paul McCartneys?
vocal doubling