Music Terminology Quiz

What is a concerto?

• A piece for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra

• A short repetitive theme in the bass line

• An ornament: a very quick, "crushed" grace note

• Two or more independent melodic parts playing together

What is an acciaccatura?

• A slightly longer grace note

• An ornament: a very quick, "crushed" grace note

• A broken chord accompaniment figure

• An accompaniment consisting of a harpsichord

What is an Alberti bass?

• A short repetitive theme in the bass line

• A broken chord accompaniment figure, usually played in quavers

• Harmony that uses complex chords

• Music in a major or minor key

What is a cadenza?

• An accompaniment consisting of a harpsichord

• A slightly longer grace note

• Orchestra stops whilst the soloist has a virtuosic solo section

• Two or more independent melodic parts playing together

What is chromatic harmony?

• Harmony that uses complex chords, using notes that are not part of the scale

• Music in a major or minor key

• A piece for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra

• An ornament: a very quick, "crushed" grace note

What is a concerto grosso?

• A short repetitive theme in the bass line

• Composition for several instrumental soloists and small orchestra

• An accompaniment consisting of a harpsichord

• A slightly longer grace note

What is continuo?

• An accompaniment consisting of a harpsichord sounding the chords and a string instrument reinforcing the bass line

• A piece for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra

• Two or more independent melodic parts playing together

• Music in a major or minor key

What is contrapuntal music?

• Two or more independent melodic parts playing together

• A short repetitive theme in the bass line

• An ornament: a very quick, "crushed" grace note

• A slightly longer grace note

What is diatonic harmony?

• Music in a major or minor key - often based around primary chords

• Harmony that uses complex chords

• An accompaniment consisting of a harpsichord

• A piece for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra

What is doubling in music?

• When the melody is played by another instrument

• A short repetitive theme in the bass line

• An ornament: a very quick, "crushed" grace note

• Two or more independent melodic parts playing together