Tempo, Dynamics, Rhythms and Notation

Question 1

C Major

Answer 1

No flats or sharps

Question 2

F Major

Answer 2

1 flat

Question 3

G Major

Answer 3

1 sharp

Question 4

A Minor

Answer 4

no sharps or flats but can have G#’s sometimes

Question 5

Adagio

Answer 5

A slow speed

Question 6

Andante

Answer 6

This tempo marking is in-between

It translates as ‘gently moving’ or ‘flowing’ Close to walking speed

Question 7

Moderato

Answer 7

A moderate or medium speed

Question 8

Allegro

Answer 8

It translates as ‘cheerful’ so expect a quick or lively pulse

Question 9

Accelerando

Answer 9

Gradually getting faster

Question 10

Riterdando/Rallentando

Answer 10

The music gradually slows down

Also known as rit.as an abbreviation

Question 11

A tempo

Answer 11

The music returns to the main tempo (speed) after there has been a change

Question 12

Fortissimo (ff)

Answer 12

Very loud

Question 13

Pianissimo (pp)

Answer 13

Very quiet/soft

Question 14

Sforzando

Answer 14

Suddenly loud

Question 15

Compound time groupings

Answer 15

The beat is a dotted note which divides into three, e.g. 6/8 = two dotted crotchet beats in a bar and each beat can be divided into three quavers

Question 16

Cross Rhythms

Answer 16

The term used to describe the effect of two notes being played against three

Question 17

Dotted rhythm

Answer 17

A long note followed by a shorter one

Question 18

Triplets

Answer 18

Squeezing three notes into 1 beat

Question 19

Accidental

Answer 19

A sign added to a note to change the pitch

A sharp (to raise the note by a semitone)
A flat (to lower the note by a semitone)
A natural (to take the not back to its original pitch)

Question 20

Chromatic

Answer 20

Notes which move by the interval of a semitone

Question 21

Cadence

Answer 21

What happens at the end of a musical phrase

Perfect cadence - the piece sounds finished/complete (chord V-I)
Imperfect cadence - creates an un-finished feel to the piece (chord I-V)

Question 22

Contrary motion

Answer 22

Two parts move in opposite directions, e.g. as one ascends (moves up) the other part descends (moves down)

Question 23

Dotted crotchet

Answer 23

1 1/2 beats

Question 24

Dotted Quaver

Answer 24

3/4 beat

Question 25

Grace note

Answer 25

A type of ornament played as a quick, crushed note before the main note of a melody

Sometimes there may be a group of grace notes as the start of a phrase and this is particularly evident in bagpipe playing

Grace notes are written smaller than the rest of the notes

Question 26

Trill

Answer 26

A type of ornament

The performer will play the note that’s shown and then the note above it

Question 27

Modulation

Answer 27

A change of key

Give the piece a different sound/feeling

Question 28

Tone

Answer 28

A tone is the distance between 2 notes. A tone is bigger than a semitone

Question 29

Whole tone scale

Answer 29

A scale that uses tones only - there is always a note in-between

Sounds mysterious/dreamy