Deck 2: Pitch,Dynamics,and Tone Color

Question 1

What is the musical term for "medium"?

A) subito
B) mezzo
C) diminuendo
D) sforzando

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which dynamic indication is the softest?

A) piano
B) fortissimo
C) pianissimo
D) mezzo piano

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What,in scientific terminology,is amplitude?

A) the level of strength of sound vibrations
B) the size of a musical instrument
C) how high or low a pitch is
D) the relative speed of the beat or rhythm

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following lists of dynamics shows a progression from louder to softer?

A) piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte
B) mezzo forte, forte, fortissimo
C) mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte
D) mezzo forte, mezzo piano, piano

Question 5

Pitch is the quality of the:

A) highness or lowness of a sound.
B) loudness or softness of a sound.
C) brightness or dullness of a sound.
D) speed of travel of sound waves.

Question 6

What determines the tone color of a sound?

A) the length of the sound-producing body
B) the number and proportion of overtones and the way they vibrate together
C) the loudness of the sound produced
D) the pitch of the sound produced

Question 7

What is the musical term for "suddenly"?

A) mezzo
B) subito
C) forte
D) molto

Question 8

A healthy human ear can hear from ________ to ________ cycles of sound vibrations per second.

A) 10; 20
B) 20; 20,000
C) 20; 440
D) 20; 440,000

Question 9

The scientific term for the speed or rate of the vibrations of sound is:

A) frequency.
B) dynamics.
C) tempo.
D) pitch.

Question 10

Fractional vibrations that are part of the fundamental pitch are called:

A) dynamics.
B) meter.
C) timbre.
D) overtones.

Question 11

What is another term for tone color?

A) timbre
B) rhythm
C) pitch
D) volume

Question 12

Which term indicates a gradual increase in dynamic level?

A) diminuendo
B) decrescendo
C) crescendo
D) mezzo forte

Question 13

What determines the pitch of a sound?

A) complex, unfocused vibrations
B) how much force the player uses in playing an instrument
C) the length of the vibrating element
D) the material used in making an instrument

Question 14

What do all stringed instruments have in common?

A) range of pitches possible
B) size of the instrument
C) sound produced by taut strings attached to a sound box
D) location in the orchestra

Question 15

Plucking the string of a stringed instrument is called:

A) legato.
B) pizzicato.
C) counterpoint.
D) violoncello.

Question 16

The musical term for the level of sound is:

A) pitch.
B) amplitude.
C) duration.
D) dynamics.

Question 17

What is the criterion for organizing the instruments of the orchestra in their present families?

A) method of production of sound vibrations
B) range of pitches possible
C) capacity for dynamic contrasts
D) tone color

Question 18

Low pitches result from:

A) short vibrating elements.
B) quickly vibrating elements.
C) long vibrating elements.
D) slowly vibrating elements.

Question 19

In which language are dynamics generally described?

A) German
B) Italian
C) English
D) French

Question 20

Tone color is the musical term for the general quality of a:

A) musical sound.
B) melody.
C) performance.
D) rhythmic combination.

Question 21

The English horn is not really a horn but a type of:

A) flute.
B) clarinet.
C) oboe.
D) violin.

Question 22

Which of these instruments is capable of playing melodies?

A) triangle
B) xylophone
C) tam-tam
D) cymbals

Question 23

Which list names the flute family?

A) bass flute, alto flute, clarinet
B) flute, piccolo, oboe, bass flute
C) piccolo, flute, alto flute, bass flute
D) flute, piccolo, bassoon

Question 24

The saxophone is similar to the ________ in the way it produces sound.

A) flute
B) bassoon
C) clarinet
D) oboe

Question 25

Briefly explain what causes sound and how it is measured.

Question 26

Define timbre and briefly explain the cause of the great variety of timbres in different kinds of voices and instruments.

Question 27

Unlike pianos,harpsichords are limited in their ________ capability.

A) rhythmic
B) harmonic
C) melodic
D) dynamic

Question 28

Name six dynamic levels you have learned and give their abbreviations and meanings.Arrange or number them in order from softest to loudest.

Question 29

Briefly explain overtones and their contribution to variety in the experience of music.

Question 30

What do all woodwind instruments have in common?

A) They are currently all made of wood.
B) All woodwinds use a reed of some sort as the vibrating sound producer.
C) They all have the same kind of mouthpiece through which air is blown.
D) They all set up vibrations in a column of air in a tube.

Question 31

How is the piano different from the harpsichord?

A) Piano strings are plucked, whereas harpsichord strings are struck by hammers.
B) The piano can be played only rather quietly, whereas the harpsichord has a wide dynamic range.
C) Piano strings are struck by hammers, whereas harpsichord strings are plucked by quills.
D) The piano has a tuned set of strings activated at the keyboard, whereas the harpsichord's strings are plucked directly by the performer.

Question 32

Which is a brass instrument?

A) oboe
B) English horn
C) bugle
D) bassoon

Question 33

Which of these instruments plays in the highest range in the violin family?

A) double bass
B) cello
C) violin
D) viola

Question 34

The harp's use in the orchestra is mainly:

A) as a special effect rather than as a regularly occurring tone color.
B) to provide a duet role with the strings.
C) to create a rhythmic effect.
D) for Baroque-era music.

Question 35

Which instrument in the brass family plays in the highest range?

A) French horn
B) trumpet
C) trombone
D) tuba

Question 36

Briefly explain the acoustical property of frequency and give the corresponding musical term.

Question 37

Sound is produced on a clarinet by:

A) blowing on a reed.
B) pressing the keys.
C) blowing across a hole in the mouthpiece.
D) plucking a string.

Question 38

Which keyboard instrument is known as "the king of instruments"?

A) clavichord
B) piano
C) organ
D) harpsichord

Question 39

The bassoon has a comparable range to which of the following instruments?

A) viola
B) oboe
C) cello
D) French horn

Question 40

How is sound produced on brass instruments?

A) The player blows through a hole in the side of the cylinder.
B) A single reed vibrates when air is blown through the small cup-shaped mouthpiece.
C) A double reed vibrates as air is blown through it.
D) The player's lips vibrate as air is blown between them into the small cup-shaped mouthpiece.

Question 41

Name the five families of woodwind instruments.List two members of each family in order from higher range to lower range.

Question 42

Describe the difference between oboe reeds and clarinet reeds.

Question 43

Name four instruments that are plucked by hand.Tell which are usually associated with popular music and which with Western art music.

Question 44

Describe two categories of percussion instruments and list three examples from each category.

Question 45

Define tone color.Use adjectives to describe some tone colors with which you are familiar.

Question 46

Compare and contrast the transverse flute and the recorder.Tell which came first in development and why one is used more frequently in orchestras today.

Question 47

List the four basic groups of instruments found in a modern symphony orchestra.

Question 48

Name and describe four members of the brass family.

Question 49

Name and describe the four members of the orchestral family of bowed instruments.

Question 50

Name four keyboard instruments,then compare and contrast these instruments.

Question 51

Describe the musical uses of the double bass in the orchestra and in jazz music.