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Quiz about Know Your Classical Music Forms
Quiz about Know Your Classical Music Forms

Know Your Classical Music Forms Quiz


Calling classical music connoisseurs and choristers. Identify each form of classical music by definition.

A multiple-choice quiz by chalcedony. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
chalcedony
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
400,736
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
190
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Question 1 of 10
1. This moving sacred vocal form is characterized as polyphonic and usually a capella. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This musical form, often appearing in ceremonial or ritual music, is characterized by a flourish of brass instruments, especially the trumpet. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This musical form at times is ecstatic, ranting, pompous, and mostly irregular as it moves freely from one set of accents to the next. Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This song type incorporates an uplifting melody, with or without lyrics, and is habitually tied to some cause or movement or ideal. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This choral piece is the musical setting of the Virgin Mary's utterance upon her visitation to cousin Elizabeth. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This instrumental piece usually features one instrument, but is sometimes written for two or three, and features several movements. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This musical form was often performed at night in the open air and is known for its fanciful melody and lightness. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This musical form reflects a fugal form for inspiration performed by string or wind instruments such as the lute or harpsichord. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This is the equivalent of a symphony only it's performed as a choreographed dance form accompanied by music, telling some kind of story and featuring light, graceful movements. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The distinction between a hymn and an anthem is defined by this: Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This moving sacred vocal form is characterized as polyphonic and usually a capella.

Answer: motet

This form became common in the Early Music period and Renaissance. It is often sung by The Cambridge Singers, The Tallis Scholars, and The 16. An example of a motet would be "O Magnum Mysterium" (O Divine Mystery) which is a common Latin textual piece such as that by Victoria or Handl.
2. This musical form, often appearing in ceremonial or ritual music, is characterized by a flourish of brass instruments, especially the trumpet.

Answer: fanfare

From Purcell to Copland, the well-known fanfares include such greats as Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" to Williams' "Olympic Fanfare".
3. This musical form at times is ecstatic, ranting, pompous, and mostly irregular as it moves freely from one set of accents to the next.

Answer: rhapsody

Two prominent rhapsodies are Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" and Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue".
4. This song type incorporates an uplifting melody, with or without lyrics, and is habitually tied to some cause or movement or ideal.

Answer: anthem

Hubert Parry composed the best one, which is my favorite, and that is known as "Jerusalem." It is based on the subsection of the poem by William Blake ("Albion"). Other anthems become iconic in other genres of music such as Bob Dylan's "Like a Rollin' Stone".
5. This choral piece is the musical setting of the Virgin Mary's utterance upon her visitation to cousin Elizabeth.

Answer: Magnificat

Common to all musical periods, especially Early Music, Renaissance, and Baroque. In Latin it translates to "My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord". Famous Magnificats were composed by Bach and Monteverdi.
6. This instrumental piece usually features one instrument, but is sometimes written for two or three, and features several movements.

Answer: sonata

Piano and violin solo sonatas are very common but they are also combined. Beethoven composed a good number and perhaps the three best piano sonatas, in "Moonlight Sonata", "Appassionata Sonata", and "Pathetique Sonata".
7. This musical form was often performed at night in the open air and is known for its fanciful melody and lightness.

Answer: serenade

Mozart wrote the most popular one, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik".
8. This musical form reflects a fugal form for inspiration performed by string or wind instruments such as the lute or harpsichord.

Answer: fantasie

Vaughn Williams wrote one in honor of an earlier countryman Thomas Tallis called "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis".
9. This is the equivalent of a symphony only it's performed as a choreographed dance form accompanied by music, telling some kind of story and featuring light, graceful movements.

Answer: ballet

Often uses nursery rhymes as the story or Shakespearean plays. Popular ballets include Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake", "The Sleeping Beauty", and "The Nutcracker" or Stravinsky's "Petroushka". Ballet is also a movement in an act of an opera.
10. The distinction between a hymn and an anthem is defined by this:

Answer: hymns always praise the Creator; anthems praise groups/causes

If you know Parry, then you know the distinction. The two types are similar; as you know hymns are sung in church service and occasionally appear in other ceremonies. Hymns are religious-based. An example of a hymn is "Holy, Holy, Holy" or "Praise to the Lord". Anthems are conducted at ceremonial rituals and occasionally in church services.

They can be nationalistic as in one's country song or they may speak to a greater cause of peace and humanity such as Parry's "Jerusalem".
Source: Author chalcedony

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