Music Memory Vocabulary

Question 1

2/2 time or 2/2 meter

Answer 1

simple meter (the half note beat is evenly divided into two quarter notes), in
which there are two beats per measure and a half note gets one beat.

Question 2

2/4 time or 2/4 meter:

Answer 2

simple meter (the quarter note beat is evenly divided into two eighth notes), in
which there are two beats per measure and a quarter note gets one beat.

Question 3

3/4 time or 3/4 meter:

Answer 3

simple meter (the quarter note beat is evenly divided into two eighth notes), in
which there are three beats per measure and a quarter note gets one beat.

Question 4

60 Minutes:

Answer 4

an American television news program broadcast on CBS since 1968.

Question 5

A A B B form:

Answer 5

a form consisting of two sections, both of which repeat.

Question 6

A B A form:

Answer 6

a form consisting of three sections, in which the third section is a repeat of the first.

Question 7

A cappella:

Answer 7

performed without accompaniment.

Question 8

A tempo:

Answer 8

return to the original tempo.

Question 9

Accelerando (accel.):

Answer 9

gradually faster (accelerating).

Question 10

Accent:

Answer 10

indicates that a note should be played or sung with more emphasis than the other notes.

Question 11

Alto:

Answer 11

low female singing voice, abbreviated “A.”

Question 12

Allegretto:

Answer 12

a tempo mark that indicates that the music is moderately fast.

Question 13

Andante:

Answer 13

a tempo mark that indicates that the music is moderately slow: at a walking pace.

Question 14

Arco:

Answer 14

a type of articulation that indicates that the strings of a stringed instrument are to be played with
a bow.

Question 15

Argentina:

Answer 15

a large country in southeaster South America. Its capital city is Buenos Aires.

Question 16

Chester A. Arthur (1829‐1886):

Answer 16

21st U.S. President, who asked Sousa to write music to replace “Hail to
the Chief.”

Question 17

Articulation:

Answer 17

the way the notes are played.

Question 18

Badinerie:

Answer 18

“jesting” in French (= scherzo or “joke” in Italian). Badinerie in music: a name given in the
18th century to a type of quick, light movement in a suite.

Question 19

Ballet:

Answer 19

a story told through music and dancing, performed on a stage with costumes, sets, and lighting.

Question 20

Band:

Answer 20

a group of musicians who play woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.

Question 21

Bass:

Answer 21

low male singing voice, abbreviated “B.”

Question 22

Bass clef (“F clef”):

Answer 22

a musical symbol that indicates F below middle C (line 4 on the staff). Instruments
that use the bass clef include cello, double bass, bassoon, trombone, baritone, euphonium, tuba,
timpani, bass guitar, piano, and harp, as well as baritone and bass voices.

Question 23

David Belasco:

Answer 23

American playwright who created a play from the short story, “Madame Butterfly,”
which was the basis for Puccini’s opera, Madama Butterfly.

Question 24

Break strain:

Answer 24

a short introduction to the march’s third section, which is called the Trio.

Question 25

Cantina:

Answer 25

a saloon or bar.

Question 26

Carnegie Hall:

Answer 26

a concert hall established in 1891 in New York City.