Music Appreciation Final Exam Review Fall 2025

These flashcards cover key concepts and composers in music appreciation, aiding in exam preparation on various music periods and styles.

What is Gregorian chant primarily considered to be?

Monophonic.

Why was Josquin des Prez's music influential?

His innovative use of polyphony.

How is Gregorian chant primarily characterized?

By its monophonic texture.

Which composer is closely associated with early polyphony at Notre Dame?

Leonin or Perotin.

What does the term cantus firmus refer to?

Use of a fixed melody

Who was a famous Medieval composer known for visions and sacred music?

Hildegard von Bingen.

What is a chief musical characteristic of Palestrina's polyphony?

Clarity and balance of voices.

The medieval “organum” style added what to chant?

Harmony

What does the Mass Ordinary include?

Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei.

What development marks the shift from Medieval to Renaissance musical thinking?

The use of thirds and sixths

Why did Renaissance instrumental music grow in importance?

Increased interest in secular music.

What influence did the Council of Trent have on music?

Calls for clearer text in sacred music.

What was the approximate range of the Medieval period?

500 to 1400 AD.

What was the primary language of the early Medieval church?

Latin.

What does 'just intonation' refer to in Renaissance tuning systems?

A system of tuning based on perfect intervals.

Which statement about Hildegard von Bingen's compositions is correct?

They were original and expressive.

How is the chanson best described?

A French song typically for vocal solo.

What was Josquin des Prez especially renowned for in the Renaissance?

Expressive use of text setting.

What does the term organum refer to?

A type of polyphonic music developed from plainchant.

What major contribution to Western music history is Palestrina credited with?

Developing the style of polyphony that became the foundation for later choral music.

What does the Baroque doctrine of the affections refer to?

The practice of expressing specific emotions through music.

What typically comprises the basso continuo?

A keyboard instrument and a bass instrument.

What is the da capo aria form?

An ABA structure

Where was one early center of Baroque opera?

Venice.

What is Henry Purcell best known for?

His operas and stage music.

What is a major characteristic of Bach's fugues?

They feature intricate counterpoint.

What features the concerto grosso?

A small group of soloists contrasted with the full orchestra.

How are movements typically structured in Baroque orchestral suites?

In dance forms.

How do Handel's oratorios differ from operas?

Oratorios are concert pieces, not staged.

Why is Vivaldi's The Four Seasons significant?

It is one of the earliest examples of program music.

What central instrumental form is based on systematic counterpoint in the Baroque?

The fugue.

How is the gigue typically described in Baroque dance suites?

As a lively dance in compound meter.

What characterizes recitative secco?

Speech-like singing accompanied by minimal chords.

Which work is an example of Purcell's music for the stage?

Dido and Aeneas.

What does basso ostinato refer to?

A repeated bass line.

What does the term terraced dynamics describe?

Sudden shifts in volume without gradual crescendos or diminuendos.

One reason the 'Hallelujah' chorus in Handel's Messiah is effective is?

The contrast between different vocal departments.

For what were Bach's cantatas typically written?

Liturgical use in church services.

What type of composition is Antonio Vivaldi most famous for?

Concertos.

What typically occurs in the development section of sonata-allegro form?

Themes are developed and transformed.

What is one hallmark of Classical style?

Clear and balanced structure.

With which institution is Haydn closely associated?

The Esterházy court.

What is usually the second movement of a Classical symphony?

Slow and lyrical.

How is Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik best described?

As a serenade for strings.

What does the Classical string quartet consist of?

Two violins, a viola, and a cello.

Why is Beethoven's middle period referred to as his 'heroic' period?

It features bold and innovative compositions.

What makes Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 innovative?

Its use of a recurring four-note motif.

The minuet-and-trio evolved into which form?

Scherzo and trio.

What does the Classical concerto most often feature?

A solo instrument accompanied by orchestra.

Why is Haydn's Symphony No. 94 nicknamed the 'Surprise' Symphony?

It features a sudden loud chord in the slow movement.

Why is Haydn's String Quartet Op. 33, No. 2 nicknamed the 'Joke' Quartet?

It contains playful elements and surprising conclusions.

What is a rondo form built around?

A recurring theme interspersed with different sections.

How did Beethoven often expand Classical form?

By adding additional movements or sections.

How did the Classical orchestra differ from the Baroque?

It was larger and included more diverse instruments.

What does the finale of a Classical symphony frequently use?

Sonata form or rondo.

How best to describe Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

A prolific and influential composer of the Classical era.

Which composer wrote the 'London Symphonies'?

Haydn.

Why is the four-note motive in Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 significant?

It serves as a unifying theme throughout the symphony.

What made Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 'Eroica' groundbreaking?

Its emotional depth and innovative structure.

What is the purpose of the cadenza in Mozart's piano concertos?

To showcase the virtuosity of the soloist.

What distinguishes Romantic harmony?

Expanded chromaticism and emotional expression.

What does the Lied typically feature?

A solo singer accompanied by piano.

How are Schumann's song cycles unified?

By common themes or motifs.

How does Wagner's use of leitmotifs function?

To represent characters or ideas throughout his operas.

For what is Chopin primarily known?

His piano music.

What is the idée fixe in Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique?

A recurring theme representing the beloved.

Where can nationalism in 19th-century music be heard?

In works that incorporate folk melodies.

How is Brahms's approach to composition often described?

Traditional and deeply rooted in Classical forms.

What is notable about Tchaikovsky's ballets?

Their expressive melodies and orchestration.

How does the piano accompaniment in Schubert's Erlkönig contribute to the drama?

It mimics galloping horses and creates tension.

How do Verdi's operas differ from Wagner's?

Verdi focused on the human voice and drama.

What is program music best defined as?

Instrumental music with a narrative or pictorial association.

What is the primary subject of Wagner's Ring Cycle?

The quest for power through the golden ring.

What is the primary story of Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique?

Unrequited love and fantasy.

What does Wagner's 'endless melody' refer to?

Continuous melodic lines without clear phrase endings.

In what way was Clara Schumann significant?

As a composer and pianist in the 19th century.

What is the third movement of Brahms' Symphony No. 3 especially known for?

A beautiful, lyrical melody.

What does the Romantic piano character piece typically feature?

Expressive and imaginative themes.

With what are Puccini's operas associated?

Realistic characters and emotional stories.

How is Wagner's Ring Cycle unified?

Through recurring musical themes (leitmotifs).

What features are common in Impressionist music?

Ambiguous harmonies and rich orchestration.

How is Debussy's orchestration best described?

Colorful and innovative.

What controversy surrounded Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring?

Its provocative rhythms and dissonance.

What does atonality refer to?

Music that lacks a tonal center or key.

How does Schoenberg's twelve-tone method organize music?

By using a specific series of pitches as the basis for composition.

What characterizes minimalism in music?

Repetition and gradual change.

What is Steve Reich's phasing technique?

Layering repetitive musical patterns that gradually shift.

What did John Cage's philosophy emphasize?

The role of chance and silence in music.

What is serialism?

A method of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate musical elements.

What characteristic is most associated with Stravinsky's early musical style?

Rhythmic complexity and experimentation.

What is a feature of expressionist music?

Extreme emotional intensity and dissonance.

What is the prepared piano associated with?

John Cage's innovative techniques.

What is scat singing in jazz?

Vocal improvisation using nonsensical syllables.

How did jazz influence other music genres?

By introducing syncopation and swing rhythms.

What structural pattern do Scott Joplin's ragtime compositions typically follow?

AABACA form.

What musical feature is John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever especially famous for?

Its catchy and memorable melody.

Why is Bernstein's West Side Story considered innovative?

It blends musical theater with serious themes.

What is notable about John Williams' music for Star Wars?

Its memorable themes and orchestral richness.

What does the term aleatoric music mean?

Music that incorporates chance elements.

What is most characteristic of traditional blues music?

A call-and-response structure and 12-bar form.