Musical Terms

Question 1

Very Slow - Largo

Answer 1

(Italian: broad, wide, large and consequently slow) is used as a frequent instruction to performers. 40-60 BPM

Question 2

Very Slow - Larghetto

Answer 2

Slightly faster than Largo. 60-70 BPM

Question 3

Rather Slow - Adagio

Answer 3

(Italian: slow) is an indication of tempo and is sometimes used to describe a slow movement. 70-80 BPM

Question 4

Moderately Slow - Andante

Answer 4

At an easy walking pace. 80-104 BPM

Question 5

Moderately - Moderato

Answer 5

At a moderate speed. 108-120 BPM

Question 6

Fast - Allegro

Answer 6

Fast, to be played quickly. 120-168 BPM

Question 7

Quite Fast - Presto

Answer 7

Faster then Allegro. 168-200 BPM

Question 8

Very Fast - Prestissimo

Answer 8

As fast as possible. 200-208 BPM

Question 9

Cantabile

Answer 9

(Italian: in singing style) walking speed and in a singing style.

Question 10

Accelerando

Answer 10

(Italian: becoming faster) is a term in general use to show that the music should be played at an increasing speed.

Question 11

Rallentando

Answer 11

(Italian: becoming slower) is a direction to a performer to play gradually slower.

Question 12

Decrescendo

Answer 12

(Italian: growing less) is used as a direction to performers, meaning becoming softer.

Question 13

Crescendo

Answer 13

(Italian: growing more) is used as a direction to performers, meaning becoming louder.

Question 14

Interlude:

Answer 14

In the theatre an interlude performs the same function as an entr’acte, music between acts or scenes, designed to bridge a gap. It may also be used to indicate music played or sung between two other works or two sections of a work.

Question 15

Legato

Answer 15

(Italian: smooth) is used as an instruction to performers. It is the opposite of staccato, which indicates a shortening and consequent detaching of notes.

Question 16

Ostinato

Answer 16

(Italian: obstinate) indicates a part that repeats the same rhythm or melodic element.

Question 17

Harmony

Answer 17

describes the simultaneous sounding of two or more notes and the technique governing the construction of such chords and their arrangement in a succession of chords.

Question 18

Instrumentation

Answer 18

is generally used to mean orchestration, the art of writing music for instruments, or, alternatively, the actual scoring of a particular composition.

Question 19

Interval:

Answer 19

In music an interval is the distance in pitch between two notes, counted from the lower note upwards, with the lower note as the first of the interval.

Question 20

Intonation

Answer 20

is the exactness of pitch or lack of it in playing or singing.

Question 21

The key signature

Answer 21

is the sharps or flats, or absence of either, at the beginning of a piece of music, indicating the sharps, flats and naturals belonging to the key of the music. Since a major or minor scale, the two now in common use, has a fixed order of tones and semitones

Question 22

The orchestra

Answer 22

a large group of musicians generally consisting of Stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello and double bass) Woodwind instruments (clarinet, bass clarinet, flutes, oboes) Brass instruments (trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba) and Percussion instruments (timpani, chimes, drums, cymbals etc).

Question 23

Rhythm

Answer 23

an essential element in music in one way or another, is the arrangement of notes according to their relative duration and relative accentuation.

Question 24

Unison

Answer 24

is the simultaneous sounding of the same note by two or more singers or players. Unison songs are not in different parts, with all singers singing the tune together.

Question 25

Pianissimo - pp

Answer 25

Very Soft - Like a whisper

Question 26

Piano - p

Answer 26

Soft - A very gentle speaking tone

Question 27

Mezzo Piano - mp

Answer 27

Moderately Soft - A lowered voice

Question 28

Mezzo Forte - mf

Answer 28

Moderately Loud - Speaking voice

Question 29

Forte - f

Answer 29

Loud - Raised voice, not quite a shout

Question 30

Fortissimo - ff

Answer 30

Very loud - Like shouting at the top of your voice