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Musical Terminology Trivia Quiz

Let's see how good you are at spelling some musical terms of Italian origin used in English. I give you the definition and four possible answers. And if your musical knowledge is sound as a bell, it will not be difficult to pick the right one!

A multiple-choice quiz by polpetta2. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
polpetta2

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
240,143

Updated
Apr 27 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
2946

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A method of playing an orchestral string instrument. Instead of using the bow, the performer plucks the desired string with a finger. Hint

Pizzacato

Spizzicato

Pizicato

Pizzicato

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Question 2 of 10

2. An indication that the tempo of a piece of music should gradually be increased. Hint

Acelerando

Accelerando

Accellerando

Acchellerando

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Question 3 of 10

3. Slow. An indication of tempo used as a playing direction in music. Hint

Addaggio

Adaggio

Adagio

Adajo

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Question 4 of 10

4. The notes of a chord played one after another, usually from the bottom upwards. Hint

Arpheggio

Arpegio

Arpeggio

Apreggio

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Question 5 of 10

5. A "little book" that contains the complete text of an opera, oratorio, and so forth. Hint

Liberetto

Libbretto

Libretto

Libreto

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Question 6 of 10

6. A short 'return' or repetition; a concluding symphony to an air, often consisting of the burden of the song. Hint

Rintronello

Ritronello

Ritonello

Ritornello

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Question 7 of 10

7. Literally means "joke." A piece in a lively tempo. Hint

Scerzo

Scherso

Screzio

Scherzo

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Question 8 of 10

8. In musical notation, it indicates that notes are sounded in a detached and distinctly separate manner with their lengths shortened. Hint

Stacato

Stacchato

Staciato

Staccato

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Question 9 of 10

9. Dynamic marking meaning "very soft". Hint

Pianisimo

Piannissimo

Pianissimo

Pianismo

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Question 10 of 10

10. A technically extremely accomplished performer/musician. Hint

Veritoso

Verituoso

Virtuoso

Vetroso

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A method of playing an orchestral string instrument. Instead of using the bow, the performer plucks the desired string with a finger.

Answer: Pizzicato

Example: The "Pizzicato" Polka by Johann Strauss.

2. An indication that the tempo of a piece of music should gradually be increased.

Answer: Accelerando

Example: the accelerando at the end of the second movement in Brahms' Second Piano Concerto.

3. Slow. An indication of tempo used as a playing direction in music.

Answer: Adagio

Example: Albinoni's Adagio (used on the soundtrack for the film 'Gallipoli' starring Mel Gibson).

4. The notes of a chord played one after another, usually from the bottom upwards.

Answer: Arpeggio

An arpeggio of a C major chord would consist of: CEGC (an octave up from the starting "C"). More advanced arpeggios, especially in jazz and blues formats, are apt to consist of notes not usually found in traditional chords, eg, sixths, sevenths.

5. A "little book" that contains the complete text of an opera, oratorio, and so forth.

Answer: Libretto

Plural form: libretti.
Libretti are not regularly published any more, now that audio recordings of operas come with complete texts and supertitles are provided in most opera houses.

6. A short 'return' or repetition; a concluding symphony to an air, often consisting of the burden of the song.

Answer: Ritornello

Example: the opening ritornello of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25.

7. Literally means "joke." A piece in a lively tempo.

Answer: Scherzo

Beethoven and many of the composers who came after him put scherzos in their symphonies instead of minuets; often fast with a variety of style ranging from light and playful to sinister and macabre. Scherzo means "joke," but the character of a scherzo movement is often ironic, turbulent, dark, or fierce.

8. In musical notation, it indicates that notes are sounded in a detached and distinctly separate manner with their lengths shortened.

Answer: Staccato

Notes identified as staccato should be played or sung abruptly and short. They are usually notated by a dot over the head of the note when the stem is downward, or by a dot below the head of the note when the stem is upward.

9. Dynamic marking meaning "very soft".

Answer: Pianissimo

To indicate even more extreme degrees of intensity, more ps are added as required. 'ppp' is found in sheet music quite frequently. No universal standard name for 'ppp' exists, but musicians use a variety of terms for these designations, including pianississimo, pianissimento, piano pianissimo, and simply triple piano.

10. A technically extremely accomplished performer/musician.

Answer: Virtuoso

A virtuoso was, originally, a highly accomplished musician, but by the nineteenth century the term had become restricted to performers, both vocal and instrumental, whose technical accomplishments were so pronounced as to dazzle the public.

Source: Author polpetta2

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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