ABRSM Grade 4 Music Theory August 2020

Question 1

1st or 8th degree of a scale

Answer 1

Tonic

Question 2

2nd degree of a scale

Answer 2

Supertonic

Question 3

3rd degree of a scale

Answer 3

Mediant

Question 4

4th degree of a scale

Answer 4

Subdominant

Question 5

5th degree of a scale

Answer 5

Dominant

Question 6

6th degree of a scale

Answer 6

Submediant

Question 7

7th degree of a scale

Answer 7

Leading Note

Question 8

Answer 8

acciaccatura - grace note - crushed note

The acciaccatura is of very brief duration, as though brushed on the way to the principal note, which receives virtually all of its notated duration

Question 9

affettuoso

Answer 9

tenderly

Question 10

alla breve

Answer 10

with a minim beat

equivalent to cut time (2/2), employing a faster tempo than the note values might otherwise suggest

Question 11

Answer 11

Alto Clef

(a type of C clef)

Question 12

amabile

Answer 12

aimable, pleasant

Question 13

animé (French)

Answer 13

animated, lively

Question 14

appassionato

Answer 14

with passion

Question 15

Answer 15

appoggiatura

The first half of the principal note’s duration has the pitch of the grace note

Question 16

assai

Answer 16

very

Question 17

come prima

Answer 17

as before

Question 18

comodo, tempo comodo

Answer 18

convenient (tempo comodo: at a comfortable speed)

Question 19

con brio

Answer 19

with vigour

Question 20

deciso

Answer 20

with determination

Question 21

douce (French)

Answer 21

sweet

Question 22

How many notes can stringed instruments play at a time?

Answer 22

two simultaneously, or even three or four

Question 23

How many notes can wind instruments play at a time?

Answer 23

one note at a time

Question 24

larghetto

Answer 24

rather slow, but slightly faster than largo

Question 25

lent (French)

Answer 25

slow

Question 26

Answer 26

lower mordent

Rapidly play the principal note, the note below it, then return to the principal note for the remaining duration

Question 27

mesto

Answer 27

sad

Question 28

misterioso

Answer 28

mysterious

Question 29

modéré (French)

Answer 29

at a moderate speed

Question 30

Name the instruments in the BRASS section of the orchestra

Answer 30

horn

trumpet

trombone

tuba

Question 31

Name the instruments in the PERCUSSION section of the orchestra

Answer 31

timpani (kettle drums)

side drum

bass drum

cymbals

(only the timpani produce notes of definite pitch)

Question 32

Name the instruments in the STRINGS section of the orchestra

Answer 32

violin

viola

cello

double bass

Question 33

Name the instruments in the WOODWIND section of the orchestra

Answer 33

flute

oboe

clarinet

bassoon

Question 34

Name the instruments of the orchestra which use the ALTO CLEF

Answer 34

viola (sometimes treble clef)

Question 35

Name the instruments of the orchestra which use the BASS CLEF

Answer 35

cello (sometimes treble or tenor clef)

double bass

bassoon

trombone (sometimes tenor clef)

tuba

timpani

Question 36

Name the instruments of the orchestra which use the TREBLE CLEF

Answer 36

violin

flute

oboe

clarinet

horn (sometimes bass clef)

trumpet

Question 37

retenu (French)

Answer 37

held back (en retenant: holding back, slowing a little)

Question 38

ritmico

Answer 38

rhythmically

Question 39

rubato, tempo rubato

Answer 39

with some freedom of time

Question 40

stringendo

Answer 40

gradually getting faster

Question 41

Answer 41

trill or ‘shake’

A rapid alternation between the specified note and the next higher note

Question 42

Answer 42

turn

When placed directly above the note, the turn indicates a sequence of the next higher note, principal note, next lower note, and a return to the principal note

Question 43

Answer 43

upper mordent

Rapidly play the principal note, the next higher note, then return to the principal note for the remaining duration

Question 44

vite (French)

Answer 44

quick