Musical Terms: One

Question 1

Acappella

Answer 1

One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment

Question 2

Accelerando

Answer 2

A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo

Question 3

Accessible

Answer 3

Music that is easy to listen to and understand

Question 4

Adagio

Answer 4

A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease

Question 5

Allegro

Answer 5

A direction to play lively and fast

Question 6

Atonal

Answer 6

Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key

Question 7

Baroque

Answer 7

Tune in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of 17th centuries. Characterised by emotional, flowery music; written in strict form

Question 8

Beat

Answer 8

The unit of musical rhythm

Question 9

Cadence

Answer 9

A sequence of chords that brings an end to a phrase, either in he middle or the end of a composition

Question 10

Cadenza

Answer 10

Originally an improvised cadenza by a soloists. Later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer

Question 11

Canon

Answer 11

A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds, backwards, or inverted

Question 12

Cantata

Answer 12

A style of singing which is characterised by the easy and flowing tone of the composition

Question 13

Capriccio

Answer 13

A quick, improvisational, spirited piece of music

Question 14

Carol

Answer 14

A song or hymn celebrating Christmas

Question 15

Castrato

Answer 15

Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range

Question 16

Cavatina

Answer 16

A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece

Question 17

Chamber music

Answer 17

Written for 2 to 10 solo parts featuring one instrument to a part. Each part bears he same importance

Question 18

Chant

Answer 18

Singing in unison, texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech

Question 19

Choir

Answer 19

Group of singers in a chorus

Question 20

Chorale

Answer 20

A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison

Question 21

Chord

Answer 21

3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony

Question 22

Chord progression

Answer 22

A string of chords played in succession

Question 23

Chorus

Answer 23

A group singing in unison

Question 24

Chromatic scale

Answer 24

Includes all 12 notes of an octave