Musical Terms

Question 1

agagio

Answer 1

Slow tempo; a slow movement.

Question 2

allegro

Answer 2

Fast tempo. Not as fast as presto.

Question 3

alto

Answer 3

The singing range between tenor and soprano.

Question 4

andante

Answer 4

Moderate tempo.

Question 5

aria

Answer 5

A solo song for voice in an opera for oratorio.

Question 6

baroque

Answer 6

Predominately 17th-century movement characterized by flourish and ornamentation.

Question 7

bass

Answer 7

Lowest male vocal range.

Question 8

buffo

Answer 8

An comic operatic bass vocalist.

Question 9

chord

Answer 9

Two or more notes played simultaneously.

Question 10

coda

Answer 10

The conclusion; the concluding portion of a musical composition.

Question 11

concerto

Answer 11

A classical piece written for an orchestra and one or more soloists, most often in three movements.

Question 12

consonance

Answer 12

Comfort brought about in tone or playing.

Question 13

contralto

Answer 13

Lowest female vocal range.

Question 14

crescendo

Answer 14

Gradually become louder; opposite of diminuendo.

Question 15

diminuendo (also decrescendo)

Answer 15

Gradually become softer; opposite of crescendo.

Question 16

dissonance

Answer 16

Discord brought about in tone or playing.

Question 17

étude

Answer 17

A musical piece written to display of specific talent or technique.

Question 18

forte

Answer 18

Loud volume.

Question 19

fortissimo

Answer 19

Extremely loud volume.

Question 20

grave

Answer 20

Extremely slow and moody.

Question 21

jazz

Answer 21

Distinctly American form of music with a basis in African American folk traditions.

Question 22

largo

Answer 22

Extremely slow tempo.

Question 23

lento

Answer 23

Slower tempo.

Question 24

libretto

Answer 24

The text of an opera.

Question 25

madrigal

Answer 25

Musical piece utilizing poetry and stanzas.

Question 26

mezzo forte

Answer 26

Moderately loud volume.

Question 27

mezzo piano

Answer 27

Moderately soft volume.

Question 28

nocturne

Answer 28

A composition, especially for piano, of a slow and dreamy nature.

Question 29

oratorio

Answer 29

Religious music composed for orchestra, chorus, and soloists.

Question 30

pianissimo

Answer 30

Exceptionally soft volume.

Question 31

piano

Answer 31

Soft volume.

Question 32

polyphony (-ic)

Answer 32

With two or more lines of melody.

Question 33

presto

Answer 33

Very fast tempo.

Question 34

rondo

Answer 34

A musical piece of alternating and contrasting themes.

Question 35

soprano

Answer 35

Highest female vocal range.

Question 36

sonata

Answer 36

A piece written for more than one soloist and usually consisting of three or more movements.

Question 37

staccato

Answer 37

The playing or singing of tones or chords marked by short, clear-cut sounds.

Question 38

symphony

Answer 38

A musical composition for full symphony orchestra; an orchestra with full wind and brass accompaniment.

Question 39

tempo

Answer 39

The pace at which music is played.

Question 40

tenor

Answer 40

Highest adult male vocal range.

Question 41

timbre

Answer 41

The quality that allows tones to be discerned from each other.

Question 42

vivace

Answer 42

Up-tempo and upbeat.