Test 2- Listening Labs

Question 1

What are the 5 main compositions covered in class?

Answer 1

1. Ionisation
2. New World Symphony 2nd Movement
3. “Canon” from Picnic Suite
4. Little fugue in G Minor
5. The old Castle

Question 2

Who is the composer of Ionisation and what is the timbre?

Answer 2

Composer: Edgard Varese

percussion

Question 3

Who is the composer or new world symphony and what is the timbre?

Answer 3

Dvorak

full orchestra

Question 4

Who is the composer of Canon and what is the timbre?

Answer 4

Claude Bolling

Flute, piano, guitar, snare drum, double bass

Question 5

Who is the composer of Little Fugue and what is the timbre?

Answer 5

J.S. Bach

organ and brass quintet

Question 6

Who is the composer of The Old Castle and what is the timbre?

Answer 6

Modest Mussorgsky

full orchestra with bassoon and alto sax solos

Question 7

Draw the form of Canon

Answer 7

see review sheet for answers

Question 8

What are the 3 categories of percussion instruments?

Answer 8

Definite Pitch
Indefinite Pitch
Continuous Pitch

Question 9

What are some examples of instruments with a definite pitch?

Answer 9

piano
celesta
tubular bells

Question 10

What is definite pitch?

Answer 10

An instrument that can play any given note

Question 11

What are some examples of instruments with indefinite pitch?

Answer 11

castanets
whip
cow bell

Question 12

What is indefinite pitch?

Answer 12

An instrument that cant play any notes, just one sound

Question 13

What are some examples of continuous pitch?

Answer 13

gongs
low siren
sustained cymbal

Question 14

Define: ABA Form

Answer 14

a 3 part form involving repetition and contrast

Question 15

Define: Round

Answer 15

when a tune is played at different times by multiple groups

Question 16

Define: Canon

Answer 16

a complex round but not as complex as a fugue

Question 17

Define: Fugue

Answer 17

a very complex round

Question 18

Define: Symphony

Answer 18

a 4 movement work for orchestra (usually 4 movements but can vary)

Question 19

Define: Dissonant

Answer 19

Clashing or unpleasant notes played together

Question 20

Define: tierce de Picardie

Answer 20

major chord at the end of a minor piece. Was used because when pianos were new they wouldn’t stay in tune

Question 20

Define: Countersubject

Answer 20

the melody that goes with the subject or answer (plays in the “background”)

Question 20

What makes the Old Castle sound old? Consider rhythm, pitch (melody and harmony) and tone colour.

Answer 20

• The rhythm is very ostinato and represents a heartbeat which can change throught the course of a song which allows for the listener to feel scared or “creeped out”
• the slow tempo creates an old long feeling (6/8 time)
• Melody is smooth and flowing creating an eerie feeling and the flowing and smoothness makes it feel slow and old
• Harmony is in a minor key which makes it feel sad and old
• The tone colour is created by a spooky old bassoon and the saxophone adds an old sound to it

Question 20

Define: English Horn

Answer 20

woodwind instrument that is a large version of an oboe. (it is two thirds bigger than the oboe)

Question 20

Define: Tone Cluster

Answer 20

a grouping of notes that are semitones apart ex. the sound when you just place your hand on the piano keys

Question 20

Define: Sequence

Answer 20

melodic fragment played at a higher or lower pitch. (fragment of a tune that is played higher or lower)

Question 20

Define: Ostinato

Answer 20

a repeated rhythmic or melodic pattern

Question 20

Define: Polyrhythm

Answer 20

many rhythms at once

Question 20

Draw the Little Fugue in G Minor

Answer 20

See review sheet for answers

Question 20

Define: Pedal Point

Answer 20

a long held note in bass Ex. a foot pedal held on an organ

Question 20

Define: brass quintet

Answer 20

5 brass players- 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, 1 french horn and 1 tuba

Question 20

Define: Subject

Answer 20

The main tune in a fugue that begins on the tonic

Question 21

Define: Program Music

Answer 21

music that creates a picture in the mind of the listener

Question 21

Define: Legato

Answer 21

something that is played smoothly

Question 21

What are the 2 solo instruments in The Old Castle?

Answer 21

Alto Saxophone

Bassoon

Question 21

Describe the pitch (melody and harmony) of The old Castle.

Answer 21

Melody: legato (smooth), flowing, conjunct (notes move step by step
Harmony: minor (because old castle is scary and creepy), consonant

Question 21

What instrument(s) was the Little Fugue in G Minor originally written for?

Answer 21

pipe organ

Question 21

What are the challenges of performing Little Fugue in G Minor?

Answer 21

• There are tons of notes so you woudlnt know which notes to play
• 4 parts played by 1 person
• many keyboards to play
• difficult bass part played by foot pedals

Question 21

How is the form of Frere Jacques and Little Fugue in G Minor similar? Different?

Answer 21

Similar:
- both are kinds of rounds
Different: 
- little fugue isnt playing the exact same notes every time but frere jacques is
- fugue is much more complex

Question 21

Explain the form of the 2nd movement of The New World Symphony

Answer 21

A- theme 1 played by english horn
B- contrasting section Theme 2
A- Theme 1 played by English Horn

Question 21

What makes the Old Castle sound old? Consider rhythm, pitch (melody and harmony) and tone colour.

Answer 21

• The rhythm is very ostinato and represents a heartbeat which can change throught the course of a song which allows for the listener to feel scared or “creeped out”
• the slow tempo creates an old long feeling (6/8 time)
• Melody is smooth and flowing creating an errie feeling

Question 21

Define: Orchestration

Answer 21

arranging an existing piece of music of music for another instrument to be played by an entire orchestra (Ex. whena piano piece is re-written and played by an entire orchestra)