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Quiz about Music Nomenclature
Quiz about Music Nomenclature

Music Nomenclature Trivia Quiz


MUSIC: The universal language. Can you choose the correct definition/description for these musical terms?

A multiple-choice quiz by hohoco_222. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
hohoco_222
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
226,475
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1288
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What does the term "poco a poco" indicate? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The term "appoggiatura" refers to which definition? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What does "sforzando" mean? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "Rallentando" is a term that means what? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "Hemidemisemiquaver" is an odd looking word which refers to what? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What does the term "fermata" indicate? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What is a "coloratura" ? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What does the term "decrescendo" suggest? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. When a musician plays in the style of "staccato," what style is represented? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. A wonderful term of texture, what does "allargando" mean? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What does the term "poco a poco" indicate?

Answer: little by little

This term is often used when a composer wishes to dictate a gradual dynamic increase or decrease. For example: poco a poco crescendo - increase volume little by litte -or- poco a poco accelerando - little by little increase speed.
2. The term "appoggiatura" refers to which definition?

Answer: a musical embellishment

An interesting fact - Anurag Kashyap of San Diego, CA won first place at the 2005 National Spelling Bee by spelling the winning word: appoggiatura. Appoggiaturas are often ornamental, impromptu musical phrases or "tricks" exectuted by the artist while performing.
3. What does "sforzando" mean?

Answer: a sudden strong accent on a note or chord

The term Sforzando is often notated by the symbols sfz or sf. A prime example of sforzando is featured in the main musical theme of the 1968 Stanley Kubrick movie, "2001: A Space Odyssey" and is named "Also Sprach Zarathustra" by composer Richard Strauss.

The piece starts with a pp (pianissimo - very quietly) dynamic marking and suddenly explodes in a triumphant burst of orchestral splendor.
4. "Rallentando" is a term that means what?

Answer: to gradually decrease tempo

Rallentando is synonymus with the more widely used term Ritardando. These terms often appear in musical manuscript as rall. or rit.
5. "Hemidemisemiquaver" is an odd looking word which refers to what?

Answer: a 64th note

Hemidemisemiquaver is the British term for a 64th note. The pattern is easy to detect: 8th note - Quaver, 16th note - Semiquaver, 32nd note - Demisemiquaver. The 64th note has some interesting (and LONG) names in other languages such as the French Octuple Croche, the German Ger Vierundsechzigstel and Vierundsechzigstelnote, the Italian Semibiscroma and the Spanish Semifusa.
6. What does the term "fermata" indicate?

Answer: a symbol that indicates to hold a pitch longer than its value

The Fermata is a symbol that looks like an upside down U or crescent with a dot placed just under it. It is usually used to create dramatic suspension at the end of a musical phrase and is often called a bird's eye or bull's eye.
7. What is a "coloratura" ?

Answer: an exceptionally high, ornamental soprano voice

The Coloratura voice is a rare and exquisite instrument. If you wish to hear a truly remarkable example of this may I suggest listening to the aria "Der Holle Rache" from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "The Magic Flute" or "Die Zauberflute".
8. What does the term "decrescendo" suggest?

Answer: to gradually decrease volume

The terms Decrescendo and Diminuendo indicate a decrease in volume and are often written as decrs., dim. or with a long arrow pointing right. The opposite of these terms is Crescendo and is written as cres. or with a long arrow pointing left.
9. When a musician plays in the style of "staccato," what style is represented?

Answer: short, separated, detached

Staccato indicates a "choppy" approach and is written by placing a small dot above the note. The opposite is LEGATO indicating smoothly connected or slurred phrasing.
10. A wonderful term of texture, what does "allargando" mean?

Answer: louder, slower and more grandiose

A perfect example of Allargando that almost everybody knows is the theme that is played before the beginning of every 20th Century Fox movie. Next time you hear it, pay close attention how it builds and slows for dramatic effect.
Source: Author hohoco_222

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