Q&A Hero

Q: Alleluia, O virga mediatrix is an example of Gregorian chant.

Q: Hildegard of Bingen wrote both the poetry and the music for Alleluia, O virga mediatrix.

Q: The modes were the basis for European art music for less than one hundred years.

Q: A setting of plainchant with many notes per syllable is called syllabic.

Q: The order of church services and the structure of each service are known as the liturgy.

Q: The scale patterns used from Gregorian chant through music of the Renaissance are called: a. keys. c. minor scales. b. major scales. d. modes.

Q: The melismatic style of Gregorian chant descended from the elaborate improvisations heard in which type of music? a. Russian folk music c. Middle Eastern music b. Italian opera d. none of the answers shown here

Q: Which term refers to the set order of church services and the structure of each service? a. plainchant c. liturgy b. Gregorian chant d. monastic

Q: Hildegards Alleluia, O virga mediatrix was sung on which liturgical occasion(s)? a. Easter Sunday c. feast days of the Virgin Mary b. any Sunday d. Christmas Day

Q: During the Middle Ages, which of the following women was a religious leader and a prominent figure in literature and music? a. Hildegard of Bingen c. Isabella dEste b. Eleanor of Aquitaine d. Lucrezia Borgia

Q: In addition to composing music, Hildegard of Bingen is known for: a. visions that people thought foretold the future. b. founding her own convent. c. writing religious poetry. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: A setting of Gregorian chant with two to four notes per syllable might be considered: a. syllabic. c. melismatic. b. neumatic. d. modal.

Q: A setting of Gregorian chant with one note per syllable is called: a. syllabic. c. melismatic. b. neumatic. d. modal.

Q: What distinguishes Gregorian chant from other types of Western music? a. It is for voices only. b. There is no harmony. c. The melodies are sometimes improvised. d. It is religious.

Q: _____ is traditionally associated with collecting and organizing the chants of the church. a. Charlemagne c. Pope Gregory the Great b. Lonin d. Hildegard of Bingen

Q: Which of the following terms characterize the texture of Gregorian chant? a. monophonic c. polyphonic b. homophonic d. multiphonic

Q: Which of the following does NOT describe life in the medieval cloister? a. living in quiet seclusion b. being at the center of trade and commerce c. devotion to prayer, scholarship, and charity d. participating in teaching and hospital work

Q: During the Middle Ages, men and women took shelter in a monastery or convent because of a: a. desire for an education. c. desire for a spiritual life. b. desire to heal the sick. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: Which of the following religions use(s) music extensively in its worship? a. Christianity c. Judaism b. Islam d. all of the answers shown here

Q: What is some of the information indicated by the title of a work? Cite specific examples given in the text.

Q: What defines the style of a work of art? How are different musical styles characterized, and how do we categorize them?

Q: Discuss the difference between style and genre.

Q: A musical work that first appeared circa 623 belongs in the Middle Ages.

Q: The style of the Classical era is the total language of all its artists as they react to the many forces that shape their environment.

Q: A musical work first performed in 1550 is part of the Renaissance period.

Q: Style indicates the creators personal manner of expression.

Q: The dates given for the beginnings and ends of historical eras are precise ones.

Q: The line between classical and popular music is clearly defined.

Q: Notated music of cultivated society is preserved through oral transmission.

Q: A genre is a category or type of music repertory.

Q: The concepts of genre easily transfer from one culture to another.

Q: The Romantic period: a. followed the Renaissance and preceded the Baroque. b. followed antiquity and preceded the Middle Ages. c. followed the Classical era and preceded the twentieth century d. followed the Classical era and preceded the Baroque.

Q: The approximate dates for the Baroque era are: a. 11501450 c. 16001750 b. 14501600 d. 17251775

Q: What is another term for popular or traditional musics? a. liturgical c. cultivated b. vernacular d. art music

Q: The Classical period: a. followed antiquity and preceded the Middle Ages. b. followed the Renaissance and preceded the Baroque. c. followed the Baroque and preceded the Romantic era. d. followed the Romantic era and preceded the twentieth century.

Q: The approximate dates for the Renaissance era are: a. 11501450. c. 16001750. b. 14501600. d. 17251775.

Q: Which of the following is the proper chronological order of musical style periods? a. Renaissance, medieval, Classical, Baroque, Romantic, twentieth century b. medieval, Baroque, Renaissance, Romantic, Classical, twentieth century c. medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, twentieth century d. medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, Classical, twentieth century

Q: The style of a historical period is defined by: a. its leading artist. c. a single defining work. b. the total language of all its artists. d. its dominant musical critic.

Q: The concept of style can be identified with: a. individual artworks. b. a creators personal manner of expression. c. music of an entire culture. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: Musical style is best defined as the: a. characteristic manner of presentation of a work. b. succession of dynamics from beginning to end of a work. c. shape of the melody line in a work. d. harmonies in a work.

Q: The preservation of music without the help of written notation is called: a. secular. c. oral transmission. b. sacred. d. retrograde inversion.

Q: Titles of musical compositions occasionally indicate: a. genre and key. c. descriptive words. b. opus number. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: Which of the following is NOT a type of secular music? a. music for church services c. music for theater b. dance music d. music for work

Q: Which general term suggests something of the overall character of a work as well as its function? a. form c. medium b. genre d. opus

Q: Describe the role of conductors, mentioning the elements of music for which they are responsible.

Q: Describe the principal types of musical ensembles (vocal and instrumental) and state how they differ from one another.

Q: The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra, by Benjamin Britten, is based on a dance tune by Beethoven.

Q: The upbeat is the strongest beat in any meter.

Q: Large ensembles, such as an orchestra, concert band, or chorus, generally need a conductor in order to perform together.

Q: The earliest wind and percussion groups were created for military purposes.

Q: The modern orchestra is typically made up of thirty to forty players.

Q: The term orchestra can be applied to various musical ensembles around the world.

Q: A piano trio is an ensemble of three pianos.

Q: The standard instrumentation of a string quartet is two violins, viola, and cello.

Q: Chamber music is intended for a small group of performers, with one player to a part.

Q: Specialized choirs that perform with organ are called a cappella ensembles.

Q: Many conductors use a thin stick known as: a. an instrument. c. a bat. b. a baton. d. a branch.

Q: The most well-known chamber music ensemble is probably: a. the string quartet. c. the gamelan. b. the orchestra. d. the brass quintet.

Q: What does Benjamin Brittens The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra illustrate? a. the timbre of each instrument b. only the percussion c. only the unique characteristics of the woodwinds d. the importance of the string section

Q: Which of the following meters is conducted in a down-right-up pattern? a. duple c. quadruple b. triple d. sextuple

Q: A jazz band usually includes: a. woodwind instruments. c. percussion instruments. b. brass instruments. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: John Philip Sousa composed _____ for his wind band, which propelled him to worldwide fame. a. symphonies c. piano trios b. string quartets d. marches

Q: The term band refers to: a. a rock group. c. a marching ensemble. b. a jazz group. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: Which instruments are traditionally arranged at the front of the orchestra? a. strings c. brass b. woodwinds d. percussion

Q: Approximately two-thirds of a symphony orchestra consists of: a. woodwinds. c. brass. b. strings. d. percussion.

Q: What is the name for a Balinese or Javanese orchestra made up largely of gongs, drums, and xylophone-like instruments? a. gagaku c. sitar b. koto d. gamelan

Q: What distinguishes chamber music from orchestral music? a. the forms of the movements b. the number of players on each part c. the room in which the music is being performed d. the number of movements in a work

Q: The term a cappella refers to choral music performed: a. with organ accompaniment. c. with piano accompaniment. b. with orchestral accompaniment. d. without any accompaniment.

Q: A fairly large body of singers who perform together is called a(n): a. orchestra. c. chorus. b. chamber ensemble. d. band.

Q: Timpani are members of the _____ family of instruments. a. string c. percussion b. brass d. woodwind

Q: The bass instrument in the brass family is the: a. double bass. c. bassoon. b. trombone. d. tuba.

Q: Which brass instrument uses a large, movable, U-shaped slide to change notes? a. trumpet c. trombone b. French horn d. tuba

Q: Which of the following brass instruments is sometimes stopped by plugging the bell tightly with the performers hand? a. trumpet c. trombone b. French horn d. tuba

Q: The brass instrument sometimes described as possessing a brilliant timbre is the: a. trumpet. c. clarinet. b. French horn. d. violin.

Q: Which of the following is true of all brass instruments? a. They are made of metal. b. They are blown with a metal mouthpiece. c. Their sound is created by the vibration of the lips. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: Which of the following is a member of the brass family? a. flute c. English horn b. harp d. tuba

Q: Which of the following is a double-reed instrument? a. the clarinet c. the bassoon b. the viola d. the saxophone

Q: Which instruments use a double-reed? a. flute, oboe, clarinet c. clarinet, oboe, saxophone b. oboe, bassoon, contrabassoon d. saxophone, oboe, contrabassoon

Q: Which instrument produces the lowest tone of the woodwinds? a. the oboe c. the contrabassoon b. the English horn d. the bass clarinet

Q: The highest-sounding member of the woodwind family is the: a. flute. c. clarinet. b. oboe. d. piccolo.