Music Theory and History

Composers

100

This composer was known for his hearing loss at 19 years of age.

Beethoven

200

This Russian composer is best known for writing the music for the ballet "Swan Lake".

Tchaikovsky

300

This composer was a "child prodigy" who wrote 8 symphonies and was in the middle of his 9th when he died of syphilis.

Mozart

400

This English composer wrote the oratorio called The Messiah from which comes the famous Hallelujah chorus traditionally sung at coronations.

Handel

500

This 11th century composer was a nun who wrote mostly vocal church music, but is also known for her instrumental compositions.

Hildegard von Bingen

Harmony

100

This musical interval has two notes of the same name, but one is higher than the other.

An octave

200

A stack of thirds, most commonly taught to beginning pianists for left hand accompaniment.

A triad/chord

300

While early music was characterized as monophonic, having only one melodic line, Bach wrote several pieces using this opposing style of composition.

Polyphonic

400

This is the most common chord progression in popular music. Use numbers.

I, IV, V, I (1, 4, 5, 1)

500

This type of cadence is often used in religious music at the end of a hymn, commonly referred to as "Amens".

Plagal Cadence (IV-I)

History

100

This style of singing was used by monks of the 10th century and popularized by Pope Gregory I.

Gregorian Chant

200

This time period in music history is usually mistaken for a genre.

Classical Period

300

This style of music first appeared in Italy in 1600 and is characterized by its usage of speech-like singing.

Opera

400

This Indian musician, known for his mastery of the sitar, heavily influenced the music of the 60's pop rock band The Beatles.

Ravi Shankar

500

This ensemble from Indonesia is a percussion orchestra composed predominantly of tuned gongs of various types and metal-keyed instruments.

Gamelan

Rhythm/Form

100

The most common rhythmic value, signifying one beat in a standard 4/4 measure.

Quarter note

200

This symbol is used to tell the performer to go back and play the passage again.

Repeat Sign

300

This rhythmic term is defined as dividing the beat into smaller units.

Subdivision

400

This section of a composition is an addendum to the end of the piece.

Coda

500

This rhythmic pattern is characterized by a temporary displacement of the regular metrical accent in music.

Syncopation

Instruments

100

This instrument hails from Hawaii.

Ukulele

200

This family of wooden instruments typically has four strings and a bow. Name at least two.

Strings Family (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass)

300

This multi-keyed instrument is surprisingly classified as a percussion instrument.

Piano

400

These are the four parts in a standard mixed choir (including both men and women). List all four in order from highest to lowest.

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

500

This brass instrument is constructed using 2.69 meters (8.8 feet) of tubing.

Trombone