HS EOY Music Revision

What is this note?

Middle C

What is this note?

D

What is this note?

E

What is this note?

F

What is this note?

G

What is this note?

A

What is this note?

B

What is this note?

C

What is this note?

D

What is this note?

E

What is this note?

F

What is this note?

G

What is this note?

A

What is this note?

B

What is this note?

C

What is this note?

B

What is this note?

A

What is this note?

G

Define dynamics

How loud or quiet the music is.

Define pitch

How high or low the notes are.

Define rhythm

How long or short the notes are.

Define structure

The different sections of the music.

Define tempo

How fast or slow the music is.

Define texture

The different layers of the music.

Define timbre

The quality of the musical sound.

What is the length of a semibreve?

4 crotchet beats

What is the length of a minim?

2 crotchet beats

What is the length of a crotchet?

1 crotchet beat

What is the length of a quaver?

½ of a crotchet beat

What is the length of a semiquaver?

¼ of a crotchet beat

Define fortissimo

Very loud

Define forte

Loud

Define mezzo forte

Fairly loud

Define mezzo piano

Fairly quiet

Define piano (dynamics)

Quiet

Define pianissimo

Very quiet

Define crescendo

Getting louder

Define diminuendo

Getting quieter

What does allegro mean?

Fast

What is the musical term for fast?

allegro

What does moderato mean?

Moderately fast

What is the musical term for moderately fast?

moderato

What does andante mean?

Walking pace

What is the musical term for walking pace?

andante

What does adagio mean?

Slow

What is the musical term for slow?

adagio

Define sforando

Emphasis on a particular note

Define legato

Smooth

Define staccato

Detached

Define opera

Musical theatre which is sung throughout.

Define virtuoso

An extremely accomplished performer, who is capable of displaying feats of great skill.

Define melisma

A group of notes sung to one syllable of text 

Define syllabic

A single note is sung to one syllable of text

Define opera seria

'Serious opera' invented and performed in the Baroque period.

Define opera buffa

'Comic opera' invented and performed in the Classical period. 

Define aria

A solo song found within an opera, usually featuring an expressive melody, and reflecting a specific point in the story (therefore the action pauses).

What is recitative singing?

A style of singing where the rhythms of ordinary speech are used, resulting in mostly syllabic music.

Define chorus

1. A part of a song which is repeated after each verse.

2. A song with lots of singers, usually accompanied by the orchestra.

3. A large organised group of singers.

Define overt

The music heard before the opera starts, usually featuring a selection of the music from the opera.

What are the four voice types, in order of pitch from highest to lowest?

Soprano, alto, tenor, bass

What is a musical?

A form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance.

What is a blockbuster musical?

A musical which is based on a film (e.g. Billy Elliot or Sister Act).

What is a jukebox musical?

A musical which features songs which come from a successful/well-loved band (e.g. We Will Rock You).

What is a mega musical?

Developed in the 1990s, these musicals used sensational special effects and had huge budgets and merchandise.  

What is a vaudeville?

MWusical extravaganza variety shows, involving comedy sketches, singing and dancing.

What were operettas?

Light stage shows with a comic theme combining both dialogue and music in a plot, often satirising current politics or public life. 

Define libretto

The text of the musical

Define score

Notated music 

What is a vamp?

A short, simple introductory passage, usually repeated several times until otherwise instructed.

What are action songs?

Songs which move the plot forward.

What are character songs?

Songs which focus on a character's thoughts and feelings.

Define improvisation

Musical material made up on the spot

What is collective improvisation?

Multiple people improvising simultaneously.

What is a swung rhythm

Uneven pairs of quaver notes, with the first note of a pair lasting longer than the second.

Define syncopation

Emphasis on the off-beat.

What is the ‘frontline section’ of a jazz band?

Melody instruments such as the saxophone or trumpet.

What is the ‘rhythm section’ of a jazz band?

Accompanying instruments such as the piano, bass and drums.

What is a clarinet?

A woodwind instrument with a single-reed mouthpiece, a cylindrical tube with a flared end, and holes stopped by keys.

What is a saxophone?

A member of a family of metal wind instruments with a reed like that of a clarinet, used especially in jazz and dance music.

What is a trumpet?

A brass musical instrument with a flared bell and a bright, penetrating tone. The modern instrument has the tubing looped to form a straight-sided coil, with three valves.

What is a trombone?

A large brass wind instrument with straight tubing in three sections, ending in a bell over the player's left shoulder, different fundamental notes being made using a forward-pointing extendable slide.

What is a piano?

A large keyboard musical instrument with a wooden case enclosing a soundboard and metal strings, which are struck by hammers when the keys are depressed. The strings' vibration is stopped by dampers when the keys are released and can be regulated for length and volume by two or three pedals.

What is a double bass?

The largest and lowest-pitched instrument of the violin family, providing the bassline of the orchestral string section and also used in jazz and some country music.

What is a drum kit?

A set of drums, cymbals, and other percussion instruments, used with drumsticks in jazz and popular music.

Define intro (pop song)

The opening section of a song that sets the mood. Usually without vocals. 

Define verse

2 or more sections with identical music but different lyrics. 

Define chorus

 A repeating section with identical music and words each time. More emotional intensity. Contains main message.

What is a pre-chorus?

A short, optional section in a song that comes immediately before the chorus.

Define hook

A catchy musical or lyrical phrase that aims to grab the listener's attention and make the song memorable.

Define harmony

The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce a pleasing effect.

Define tonality

Key the music is played in; minor/major

What is a Theme and Variations?

A musical theme which is repeated several times, but altered or varied on each repetition.

What instruments are involved in a string quartet?

Two violins, a viola, and a cello.

Describe the instruments of the string section in the classical era.

Violin, viola, cello

Describe the instruments of the woodwind section in the classical era.

Flute, oboe, bassoon and clarinet

Define flute

A woodwind instrument where sound is produced by blowing against a sharp edge, either directly or through a hole.

Define violin

a stringed musical instrument of treble pitch, played with a horsehair bow, with four strings and two f shaped soundholes.

Define cello

A bass instrument of the violin family, held upright on the floor between the legs of the seated player.

Define oboe

A soprano-pitched woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece, a slender tubular body, and holes stopped by keys.

Define bassoon

A bass woodwind instrument of the oboe family, with a doubled-back tube over four feet long, played with a double reed.