Music Appreciation Flashcards (Midterm)
The sound of string instruments is produced by a ______ stretched between two points.
vibrating string
The precise pitch of a sound is determined by how many _______ happen every second.
vibrations
If the frequency of the C in the middle is 256 Hz, the corresponding frequencies on either side of that C are:
512 Hz on the one to the right, and 128 Hz on the one to the left
Handel uses different combinations of dynamics and timbre to achieve unity and variety in See Here the Conqu'ring Hero Comes. Which of the following two excerpts combines more instruments and louder dynamics?
Excerpt A
Listen to these two excerpts. Which excerpt comes from Section A of Chopin's Étude Op.10 No. 12 in C minor?
Excerpt 2
Which of the following excerpts from See Here the Conqu'ring Hero Comes uses loud dynamics?
Excerpt A
Which of the following excerpts is an example of folk music?
Excerpt A
Listen to the following excerpts of Idea A from G. F. Handel's See Here the Conqu'ring Hero Comes. Which one is played by a solo instrument?
Excerpt B
Which of the following excerpts suggests increasing tension in the music?
Excerpt B
Which of the following two excerpts uses soft dynamics?
Excerpt B
A long string, if plucked really hard, will vibrate faster and thereby produce a higher pitch than a shorter string.
False
A note at the bottom of the staff has a higher pitch than a note at the top of the staff.
False
A referential listener is a person that is mainly concerned with judging the quality of the performance of a piece of music.
False
According to Booker T. Washington, plantation songs have nothing to do with religious fervor.
False
According to the text, the folk song Dark Eyes reflects the Romanian national character.
False
According to the text, traditional symphony orchestra musicians are permitted to improvise their parts
False
All harpsichords use one string per key to produce sound.
False
Castanets are traditionally played by shaking them
False
Certain noteheads can only be place on staff lines
False
Dynamic variety refers to the use of different sound sources.
False
In the Western music tradition, a note symbol (i.e., its shape) indicates both duration and pitch.
False
In the Western music tradition, a note symbol (i.e., its shape) indicates pitch.
False
Interpretation is one of the composer's most important tasks.
False
Music only affects our feelings and thoughts.
False
Music's main power is its ability to symbolize an era of society or culture.
False
Musical associations remained fixed in time.
False
Musical themes cannot represent real or fictional characters.
False
Perceptive listeners are mainly concerned with extra-musical connections or associations.
False
Referential listeners are the most common type of listeners.
False
Staff notation was so perfectly conceived from the beginning, that the standard in most Western music traditions has always been staff notation.
False
The Entry Chorus from Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi is sung by a chamber choir.
False
The French technical term for "mouthpiece" is la bouche.
False
The critical listener combines the characteristics of all types of listeners.
False
The following excerpt features a musical ensemble.
False
The following excerpt features a solo performer.
False
The key indicated by the arrow above is correctly labeled. (F flat or G sharp)
False
The letter name for white keys on the keyboard can change depending on the musical context of a given composition.
False
The performer's messages, emotions, images, memories, and/or thoughts are contained in the music score.
False
The sole function of the conductor is to beat time
False
The soprano register lies between the alto and tenor vocal ranges.
False
The system of parallel lines and spaces used to write music is called notation.
False
The term concerto refers to a performer playing by her/himself.
False
The two notes of an octave sound exactly the same due to the simple relationship of their frequencies.
False
The two tones of an octave vibrate at the same frequency rate
False
The violins are played pizzicato in this 12-second example.
False
The volume of this excerpt is an example of crescendo
False
The Étude Op. 10 No. 12 in C minor by Frédéric Chopin is an example of three-part form.
False
The Étude Op. 10 No. 12 in C minor by Frédéric Chopin is nicknamed Revolutionary because it started a major upheaval in Paris in 1820.
False
A rest symbol indicates
A period of silence
This musical excerpt is an example of piano volume
False
Unity alone sustains interest and appeals to our need and enjoyment of the new, different, and unexpected.
False
When performing, pianists are in direct contact with the source of the sound.
False
Would it be true of false if someone said that the following excerpt is played by chordophones?
False
Which of the following excerpts is an example of jazz?
Excerpt B
A piece of folk music typically remains unchanged throughout the years
False
As a musical concept, dynamics covers only the overall loudness or softness of a piece of music.
False
Chopin's First Piano Concerto was inspired by a young singer named Constantia Gladkowska.
False
Composers started marking their scores with volume indications as soon as music notation was invented.
False
Deep River is a great example of a jazz piece.
False
Descending intervals are calculated differently from ascending ones.
False
Evidence of the healing power of music has only been collected recently.
False
Great performers possess outstanding technique but may not have deep musical understanding.
False
Handel's Eight Suites for Keyboard remained largely unknown in the 18th century, except among his friends.
False
In the Western music tradition, understanding regarding the duration of sounds has been transmitted via oral means.
False
In the traditional symphony orchestra, the violins usually play as one undivided group.
False
In the Étude Op. 10 No. 12 in C minor by Frédéric Chopin, the chords played by the right hand represent the accompaniment.
False
Listen to the following excerpt from Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. In this 20-second excerpt, the brass family plays throughout.
False
Listen to the following excerpt from Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. In this excerpt, the percussion family plays throughout
False
Since the synthesizer is an electronic instrument, oscillation is not a factor in sound generation.
False
Structure is not a crucial aspect of music.
False
The aria Lucevan le Stelle is from the opera Gianni Schicci by Giacomo Puccini.
False
The following excerpt is sung by a baritone.
False
The harpsichord was used as an accompanying instrument in opera only in the 16th century.
False
The volume of this excerpt is loud
False
Identify the woodwind instrument in this excerpt by the contemporary composer Aulis Sallinen.
Flute
This instrument is called a
French horn
The instrument in this example is a/an
Membranophone
In the Western music tradition, sound is represented in written form through musical __________.
Notation
Each line and space on the staff represents a different what?
Pitch
In the organ, pipe length determines:
Pitch
What instrument plays this example?
Synthesizer
The pitch of a sound is a person's absolute perception of how high or low that sound is.
false
The distance between two pitches id called a/an
interval
The pitch letter names correspond to:
the white keys on a piano keyboard
Timbre is often referred to as _____ color.
tone
A pianist's skill in manipulating volume is usually referred to as the performer's
touch
The distance between D and A (above that D) is a:
Fifth
Percussion instruments where two similar objects are clapped together to produce a sound can be further classified under the _____.
Idiophone
Percussion instruments are an essential part of marches. Which instrument do you hear in this excerpt?
Snare drum
The following example is played by the:
Snare drum
Listen to the following excerpt from Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Which orchestral family performs the main theme in this selection?
String family
Identify the false statement:
Synthesizers have always had a well-established presence in standard ensembles.
The aria Lucevan le Stelle is composed for a/an:
Tenor
The term controller refers to:
The device used to select pitch in an electronic instrument
In jazz, performers have wide, creative freedom, even when they are playing from a score.
True
In the Western music tradition, a note symbol (i.e., its shape) indicates duration.
True
In wind instruments, sound is produced by setting a column of air in motion inside the body of the instrument.
True
It is common to think of art music as superior to other kinds of music.
True
It is very important to recognize that pitch is a relative concept.
True
Jazz incorporates elements of folk music.
True
Just as there are quarter notes, there are quarter rests.
True
Kettledrum is another name for timpani.
True
Keyboard instruments are sometimes part o the orchestra.
True
Music that follows an explicit story is often called program music.
True
Music was clinically approved as a medical treatment in 1924.
True
Musical connotation happens when music is associated with extra-musical events or experiences.
True
Musical connotation is reinforced by the use of certain instruments.
True
Noteheads are placed on either lines or spaces on the staff to represent different pitches.
True
Successive lines and spaces from top to bottom of the staff represent successively lower pitches.
True
The "sandwich" key on the piano keyboard is always D.
True
The baritone range lies between the bass and tenor
True
The casual listener regards music mainly as a mood enhancer or as a pleasant part of the environment.
True
The first organ used water to control wind pressure.
True
The following excerpt features a solo performer.
True
The following excerpt from Pictures at an Exhibition features low pitches.
True
The frequency of the lowest sound that the normal human ear can perceive ranges between 16 and 20 Hertz.
True
The harp may be a part-time fifth member of the orchestral strings
True
The perceptive listener combines the characteristics of all types of listeners.
True
The performer acts as a bridge between the composer and the listener.
True
The short excerpt below ends with a cadence.
True
The sound source of the synthesizer is an oscillator.
True
The synthesizer has virtually no standard repertoire.
True
The term étude refers to pieces that are used to teach a particular technical skill to performers.
True
The trumpet and the French horn use valves to change pitch
True
The violins are played pizzicato in this nine-second example.
True
This musical excerpt is an example of forte
True
Timpani are capable of producing an actual pitch.
True
Two of the most obvious musical elements that composers use to achieve variety are dynamics and timbre.
True
We refer to specific pitches or tones with letter names using the letters A through G.
True
When calculating intervals, both the start and end notes should be included in the count
True
This example comes from a concerto for ______ and orchestra.
Trumpet
This instrument is called a
Trumpet
Listen to the following excerpt from Sergei Prokofiev's Symphony No. 6. There is a dialogue between a high-sounding part and a low one. Which brass instrument plays the low part
Tuba
This instrument is called a
Tuba
If you take any pitch on the keyboard, the next occurrence of the same letter name going towards the left (down) will vibrate:
Twice as slow
The following excerpt from Modest Mussorgsky's symphonic poem Night on the Bald Mountain features two instruments playing in:
Unison
Which string instrument is featured in this excerpt from Paganini's 2 Caprices?
Violin
This excerpt features which of the following?
Vocal Ensemble
Composers started marking their scores with instructions about dynamics:
Well unto the 17th century
A notes duration is indicated by
Whether the note head is filled or not and the number of flags in the stem
Which of the following is not a decision about interpretation that a conductor makes?
Whether to use a modern or old-fashioned baton
The black key to the right of the A on this keyboard can be called A sharp or B ____.
flat
The black key to the right of the F on this keyboard can be called F sharp or G
flat
This example comes from a concerto for __________ and orchestra.
horn
The energy with which a player produces the air stream determines __________.
volume
Listen to the following excerpt: Which vocal range does it represent?
Bass
The acoustic can be classified as a:
Chordophone
The audible frequency spectrum in humans ranges between:
16 and 20,000 Hertz
The song Dark Eyes is sung by a choir without instrumental accompaniment. This type of vocal group is called:
A cappella choir
In the following 10-second excerpt, the strings use:
A combination of bowing and pizzicato throughout
A musical movement is:
A complete, self-contained section within a larger music composition.
Music notation is:
A graphical system that strives to represent duration, pitch, and other music elements.
A music ensemble is:
A group of musicians that perform as a unit.
Music that is not associated with a particular story, image, object, or event is called _________ music.
Absolute
Listen to this excerpt from Midsummer Night's Dream. Which instrument classification is represented?
Aerophone
What instrument category does the horn belong to?
Aerophone
Select the culture whose mythology is filled with references to the healing power of music:
All of these answers
The one-piece cast-iron frame, a crucial development in the history of the piano, was invented by:
Alpheus Babcock of Boston, USA in 1825
When a piece has been composed one instrument, but is actually played using another, the resulting work is called:
An arrangement
The first known instance of a harpsichord dates from:
Around 1397
The instrument featured in this example can be classified as:
Chordophone
The one-piece cast-iron frame, a crucial development in the history of the piano, was invented by:
B. Alpheus Babcock of Boston, USA in 1825
In this section of the song Dark Eyes the a cappella choir accompanies a:
Baritone
Which of the following is a member of the brass family?
Bass trombone
Which of the following is NOT a way to produce sound in string instruments?
Blowing
How does a violinist control dynamics?
By applying more or less bow pressure and speed on the strings
Which percussion instrument is featured in the example?
Castanets
Leonard B. Meyer refers to the connection between music and its function as a musical:
Connotation
Listen to this excerpt from Section A of Chopin's Étude in C minor. What is the function of the left hand in the following excerpt?
Continues playing figurations (melodic patterns)
The function of the organ's stops is to:
Control the flow of air to the pipes
The name of the white key in between the group of two black keys on the keyboard is:
D
The electric guitar can be considered as both a chordophone and a/an:
Electrophone
This is a short excerpt from J.S. Bach's Air from the Suite No. 3 in D major. Listening to that excerpt, a casual listener would be more inclined to do which of the following?
Enjoy the music as background
Ascending and descending intervals are calculated:
Exactly the same
Which of the following is an example of a cadential point?
Example A (dun, dun, DUNDUN)
A cadential point brings the musical phrase to a resting point, which may or may not be followed by a pause. Which of the following excerpts ends with a cadential point that brings the phrase to a resting point?
Excerpt C
The staff is a system of:
Five lines and four spaces
Listen to the following excerpt: What woodwind instrument plays along with the orchestra?
Flute
The four main orchestral woodwind instruments are:
Flute, clarinet, oboe, and bassoon
Upon its invention, the fortepiano eclipsed the popularity of the harpsichord:
For the next 200 years
Music notation can be thought of as a:
Forms of communicaation mong musicians
The interval between D and the next above that D, is called a:
Fourth
Listen to the following excerpt from Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Which brass instruments are featured prominently in this selection?
French horns
Listen to this excerpt from Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Which string instrument is featured in the excerpt?
Harp
What instrument plays this example?
Harpsichord
The basic unit of frequency is the:
Hertz
Aside from Carmina Burana (1937), Carl Orff is widely known for:
His work in music education
What is the function of the amplifier?
It amplifies loudness.
Please select the word pair that best completes the following sentence. The organ is a ____________instrument, whose tone is produced by wind flowing through ____________.
Keyboard, pipes
What is NOT the role of the conductor in a traditional symphony orchestra?
Makes sure that, when appropriate, players improvise their parts correctly
The pedals are a crucial component of the piano. The function of the soft pedal is to reduce the amount and quality of the sound. On an upright piano, the soft pedal:
Moves the hammers closer to the strings
The excerpt you just heard belongs to a type of music that is:
Not notated (at least, not in the traditional sense), and includes many improvised sections and solos.
What instrument plays the melody in this excerpt from Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf?
Oboe
Which of the following is a true statement
Octave is the name of a particular interval size
Vibration may be represented in terms of frequency. The basic unit of frequency is called the Hertz. What does one Hertz represent?
One cycle per second
The upright piano was first developed in:
Philadelphia, USA
What instrument plays this example?
Piano
Listen to the piano playing in this excerpt. What are the short segments played by the piano alone?
Riffs
In musical notation, pitch is indicated exclusively by:
The position of ntoes on the lines and spaces of the staff
The descending interval between A and F is a:
Third
Listen to this excerpt from Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss. Which percussion instrument plays in this excerpt?
Timpani
Which brass instrument plays the melody in this example?
Trombone
A traditional symphony orchestra can sometime have more than 100 players
True
Absolutists derive pleasure from listening for the way that the different elements of music relate to each other, independently of any extra-musical connotations.
True
An understanding of form enhances and improves one's appreciation of music.
True
Form is a way of defining the organization of a piece of music.
True
Handel continued to play organ concertos even after he had lost his sight.
True
If someone said that instruments that produce sounds via vibrating columns of air are called aerophones, would that be a true or false statement?
True
In the organ, volume is determined by:
Wind pressure
Identify the solo percussion instrument in this excerpt.
Xylophone
This instrument is called:
Xylophone
The name of this instrument is ________.
bassoon
The name of this instrument is ____.
oboe
Please select the word pair that best completes the following sentence. When a harpsichordist depresses a key, a simple mechanism causes a __________ to __________ a string.
quill; pluck
The type of music event where a soloist plays by her/himself is called a __________.
recital
The text states that __________ is the essential element in music.
rhythm
