Musical Genres

Question 1

Secular Song - usually about love - accompanied by lute or sung by an a cappella chorus - often in English or Italian - Renaissance & Early Baroque

Answer 1

Madrigal

Question 2

Sacred Song - a cappella chorus (SATB) - complex melodies and harmonies - Renaissance & Baroque

Answer 2

Motet

Question 3

Musical Theatre - elaborate sets, props, costumes, orchestral accompaniment - dancers & highly trained singer-actors - arias, duets, trios, chorus, recitatives - began in the Baroque era and remains popular to this day.

Answer 3

Opera

Question 4

Orchestral work - features a virtuoso soloist - 3 movements (fast, slow, fast) - cadenza sections - popular from Classical era onwards

Answer 4

Solo Concerto

Question 5

Orchestral work that is mostly made up of strings and harpsichord - features a solo group often involving cello/bassoon, violin/flute and a keyboard (harpsichord) - ritornello & fugal forms - Baroque genre

Answer 5

Concerto Grosso

Question 6

Orchestral work involving strings, winds, brass and percussion families - 4 movement (fast, slow, dance, fast) - evolved out of the Italian Overture of Baroque operas - Classical era

Answer 6

Symphony

Question 7

A set of dances played by a small orchestra - features dances from different countries - Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, Minuet, Polonaise etc. - these dances are in rounded binary form - Baroque era

Answer 7

Dance Suite

Question 8

4 movement work for 4 string instruments - violin, violin, viola, cello - like a miniature symphony featuring sonata and rondo forms - Classical era

Answer 8

String Quartet

Question 9

Orchestral work - One movement only - illustrates or evokes the content of a poem, short story, novel, painting, landscape, or other (non-musical) source - Romantic era

Answer 9

Tone Poem / Symphonic Poem

Question 10

Orchestral music - contains contrasting sections that is played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio or preceding a play, often containing the main musical themes of the work.

Answer 10

Concert Overture

Question 11

Sacred music - sung by soloists and choir, either a cappella or with accompaniment (organ or orchestra) - sets the portions Eucharist liturgy, so it comes in portions like Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei etc. - began in the Renaissance and is still composed for the church by contemporary composers

Answer 11

Mass

Question 12

A large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists - concert piece, not staged - usually about religious (sacred) stories and topics - very popular in the Baroque period but there are contemporary works as well

Answer 12

Oratorio

Question 13

Means “sung” - A vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir - religious (sacred) topics or biblical texts

Answer 13

Cantata

Question 14

20th century jazz ensemble that involves a rhythm section (drumkit, bass, optional piano/guitar) and a group of wind players (saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, trombones)

Answer 14

Big Band

Question 15

2oth century ensemble that involves a singer accompanied by drumkit, electric bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, keyboard/synthesizer - music is often in 4/4 time - homophonic - can be lively or slow

Answer 15

Rock Band

Question 16

A melodic framework for improvisation akin to a melodic mode in Indian classical music - made up of four main sections: alap, johr, gat, jhala - features a main melody supported by drumming and a drone

Answer 16

Raga

Question 17

Dramatic dance music of Argentina - distinct sound of bandoneon - also violin, guitar, piano, bass - features the habanera rhythm, a lot of ornamentation, speed changes - usually in 4/4

Answer 17

Tango

Question 18

Indonesian orchestral music - mostly comprised of metallophones - two types: Bali, Java

Answer 18

Gamelan

Question 19

Jamaican song - often about a socio-cultural topic - moderate 4/4 time - ska / skanking rhythm - distinct bass line, guitar, drumkit but also congas, bongos, timbales, and other percussion, sometimes marimbas and trumpets - mostly homophonic texture but backup singers, fills and bass line provides melodic interest

Answer 19

Reggae

Question 20

Trinidad and Tobago song - often about a socio-cultural topic - lively 4/4 time - some syncopation - bass guitar, drumkit, guitar, keyboard and other percussion - distinct sounds of steelpan drums - best performers can make up the lyrics on the spot

Answer 20

Calypso

Question 21

Solo piece in 4 movements that was made popular in the Classical era.

Answer 21

Sonata

Question 22

A song that is spoken in complex rhythms

Answer 22

Rap

Question 23

A song that is half spoken and half sung

Answer 23

Recitative

Question 24

A song for solo voice accompanied by the piano, made popular in the Romantic period - usually in German and sung in private parties

Answer 24

Lied

Question 25

A 20th century song that is made up of 12 or 16 bars, featuring dominant 7th chords - usually in a slow or moderate swing beat - the lyrics are often morose

Answer 25

Blues