Music Appreciation 121 Exam 3 Study Guide

How many compositions did Frederic Chopin write?

about 230

what instrument did Chopin primarily compose for?

Piano

who composed Etude in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 12 (“Revolutionary”)?

Chopin

What type of music is Symphonie Fantastique?

Program music

Who composed Symphonie fantastique?

Berlioz

In opera, a cavatina is:

a slow, lyrical aria

A cabaletta is typically:

faster and energetic

Why were Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wager historically important?

they advanced nationalism in opera

Which Russian composer wrote The Nutcracker?

Tchaikovsky

Who composed The Rite of Spring?

Stravinsky

Which two composers are most closely associated with Impressionism in music?

Debussy and Ravel

Jazz music is best described as:

A fusion of Western European and African music

Which of the following styles is associated with the early development of jazz?

Ragtime

Which musician is most associated with Ragtime>

Scott Joplin

Which scale is commonly used to improvise blues music?

Pentatonic scale

The basic structure of early blues music is:

12-bar phrases

Rock and Roll began during which time period?

Late 1940s—early 1950s

Which song is considered one of the first rock and roll pieces?

Rock Around the Clock

The term “British Invasion” refers to:

British rock bands dominating the U.S. music market

what were two of the bands associated with the British Invasion

the Beatles and Rolling Stones

Who was the most important symbol of protest music in the 1960s-1970s?

Bob Dylan

Which genre is Jimi Hendrix associated with?

Psychedelic rock

Reggae music originated in:

Jamaica

Which musician is most strongly associated with Raggae?

Bob Marley

Which musician is associated with funk music

James Brown

Why was MTV important in music history?

It helped spread and popularize pop music

Rap music began in:

The late 1970s—early 1980s

Program Music

instrumental music that tells a story or depicts a scene, idea, or narrative

Absolute Music

instrumental music with no intended story or extra-musical meaning

Tone Color (Timbre)

the unique quality of a sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice form another

Motif / Theme

a short musical idea that is developed or repeated throughout a piece

Romanticism

a 19th-century movement emphasizing emotion, individuality, and expressive freedom

Virtuosity

exceptional technical skill, especially in performance

Etude

a short musical composition designed to improve a specific technical skill

Nationalism (in music)

music that reflects a nation’s identity through folk tunes, language, or historical themes

Idee Fixe

a recurring musical theme representing a character or idea (used in Symphonie fantastique)

Opera

a dramatic work in which the text is sung and accompanied by an orchestra

Aria

a solo vocal piece that expresses emotion

Cavatina

a slow, lyrical, contemplative aria

Cabaletta

a fast, energetic aria, usually following a cavatina

Recitative

speech-like singing that advances the plot

Leitmotif

a recurring musical theme associated with a character, idea, or place (important in Wagner)

Ballet

a theatrical dance form set to music

Dissonance

harsh or unstable combinations of sounds

Rhythm

the organization of beats in music

Modernism

a 20th-century movement that broke away from traditional harmony and form

Impressionism

a style focusing on atmosphere, mood, and tone color rather than strong melodies

Whole-Tone Scale

a scale made entirely of whole steps, creating a floating, ambiguous sound

Pentatonic Scale

a five-note scale used in Impressionism, Blues, Jazz, and Folk music

Improvisation

spontaneous creation of music during performance

Syncopation

accenting weak beats or off-beats

Swing

a rhythmic feel characteristic of jazz

Call and Response

a musical conversation between performers or groups

Blue Notes

lowered notes that give blues and jazz their expressive sound

12-Bar Blues

a standard harmonic structure used in blues music

Backbeat

emphasis on beats two and four in a measure

Amplification

use of electronic devices to increase volume

British Invasion

Period when British rock bands dominated U.S. charts in the 1960s

Protest Music

music expressing social or political criticism

Psychedelic Rock

a genre emphasizing experimentation, distortion, and altered sounds

Reggae

a Jamaican music style with off-beat rhythms and social themes

Funk

a rhythm-driven style emphasizing grooves and bass lines

DJ (Disc Jockey)

a person who selects and plays recorded music, especially in hip-hop

MC (Master of Ceremonies)

the vocalist or rapper in hip-hop music

MTV

a television network that popularized music videos and pop culture

Sampling

using portions of existing recordings in new music

Rap

rhythmic spoken delivery of lyrics over a beat