Q&A Hero

Q: Billingss compositions consisted mostly of what types of textures? a. monophonic c. polyphonic b. homophonic d. melismatic

Q: What was William Billingss musical training? a. He studied music in Europe. b. He took composition lessons in college. c. He was likely a self-taught musician. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: Essentials: p. 112

Q: The New England Psalm-Singer was a collection of compositions by _______. a. Paul Revere c. William Billings b. Samuel Adams d. John Calvin

Q: _____ were/was designed to teach a congregation the basics of notation and theory. a. Singing schools c. Lining-out b. Music universities d. The heterophonic effect

Q: Many people singing slight variants of the same melody simultaneously is called: a. monophony. c. heterophony. b. polyphony. d. homophony.

Q: The system where a leader sings each line of a psalm and the congregation repeats it in turn is called: a. a psalm tune. c. the Sacred Harp. b. lining-out. d. polyphony.

Q: Discuss the reasons for the Messiahs continued popularity.

Q: What are the differences between an opera and an oratorio? Use examples of each genre to support your answer.

Q: Handel was a composer and an entrepreneur.

Q: A ritornello is the repetition of the A section in a da capo aria.

Q: An oratorio includes recitatives, arias, and choruses.

Q: The church officially sponsored Handels Messiah.

Q: Handel and J. S. Bach were close friends.

Q: The Hallelujah Chorus is the climax of the Christmas section of Messiah.

Q: The libretto for Handels oratorio Messiah is a compilation of verses from the Bible.

Q: Handel wrote his oratorio Messiah over a period of four years.

Q: The role of the chorus is especially important in the oratorio.

Q: An oratorio is a dramatic, staged work with elaborate scenery and costumes.

Q: Handels Messiah was a. officially sponsored by the church. b. commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. c. designed to turn a profit. d. commissioned by the Queen of England.

Q: The text of an oratorio is called: a. a libretto. c. da capo aria. b. a sermon. d. ritornello.

Q: The famous choral climax of Handels Messiah is: a. For unto us a Child is born. c. Comfort ye, my people. b. the Hallelujah Chorus. d. And the glory of the Lord.

Q: What is a ritornello? a. a repeated figure in the bass line b. the repetition of the A section in a da capo aria c. a recurring motive in an aria d. an instrumental refrain in an aria

Q: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion from Messiah is an example of: a. a da capo aria. c. accompagnato recitative. b. secco recitative. d. four-part choral writing.

Q: Later in life, Handel turned his efforts from the opera to: a. the cantata. c. the Mass. b. the symphony. d. the oratorio.

Q: When Handel arrived in London, he established his fame by composing: a. secular cantatas. c. concertos. b. oratorios. d. operas.

Q: __________ was born in Germany and studied in Italy but spent much of his creative life in England. a. Bach c. Purcell b. Handel d. Scarlatti

Q: The stories for oratorios are generally drawn from: a. Greek mythology. c. medieval history. b. the Bible. d. contemporary life.

Q: An oratorio includes which of the following? a. elaborate scenery c. costumes b. recitatives d. acting

Q: Handels Messiah has become a staple of a. Easter celebrations. b. Christmastime celebrations. c. Passover celebrations. d. none of the answers shown here

Q: Which of the following is Handels most famous oratorio, frequently performed today? a. Julius Caesar c. Samson b. Israel in Egypt d. Messiah

Q: Handels Messiah is an example of: a. an opera. c. an oratorio. b. a cantata. d. a masque.

Q: Johann Sebastian Bach lived a short, unhappy life and had no children.

Q: Bach completed just under 100 cantatas in his lifetime.

Q: Chorales were intended to be sung by a trained choir.

Q: A chorale is a hymn tune associated with the followers of Martin Luther.

Q: The texts for chorales were always taken from the Bible.

Q: Bach uses a hymn originally written by ________ as the basis for Wachet auf (Sleepers Awake). a. Martin Luther c. Machaut b. Philipp Nicolai d. Farmer

Q: Bachs cantatas typically included how many movements? a. two c. five to eight b. four d. eleven

Q: Lutheran chorales were originally sung in what language? a. Latin c. English b. German d. French

Q: The elaboration of the weekly Lutheran hymn is known as a: a. chorale. c. spiritual. b. cantata. d. chorus.

Q: A group of university students and musicians who give regular concerts is called: a. a collegium musicum. c. a chorale. b. an ensemble. d. cantata.

Q: Luther and his followers created weekly hymns known as: a. sorrow songs. c. chorales. b. congregational tunes. d. choruses.

Q: The opening movement of Bachs cantata Wachet auf is best described as: a. a grand chorale fantasia. c. a soprano aria. b. a duet for soprano and bass. d. a four-part chorale.

Q: What is the form of the chorale tune Wachet auf? a. A-B-B c. da capo (A-B-A) b. A-B-B-A d. bar form (A-A-B)

Q: Johann Sebastian Bach was most famous in his day as a performer on: a. the harpsichord. c. the piano. b. the organ. d. the clavichord.

Q: During his lifetime, Johann Sebastian Bach held the position of: a. cantor of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. b. court organist and chamber musician to the duke of Weimar. c. court musician to the prince of Anhalt-Cthen. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: Which of the following describe(s) the chorale? a. Chorales were intended to be sung by the congregation. b. The chorale tune was placed in the soprano in four-part settings. c. Chorale texts are in German. d. all of the answers shown here

Q: The sacred cantata was an integral part of the: a. Catholic church service. c. Lutheran church service. b. Anglican church service. d. Pilgrims church service in America.

Q: Discuss how Wachet auf (Sleepers Awake) reveals Bachs deep-rooted faith and his ability to communicate a meaningful spiritual message.

Q: Discuss how the chorale expanded into the cantata.

Q: Wachet auf (Sleepers Awake) is in a standard three-part structure known as bar form.

Q: Bachs cantata Wachet auf (Sleepers Awake) is based on a well-known Lutheran choral tune written by Philipp Nicolai.

Q: J. S. Bach is the culminating figure of the Baroque style and one of the giants in the history of Western music.

Q: In Wachet auf, Bach presents the chorale melody in only one movement.

Q: Bachs setting of the chorale tune Wachet auf utilizes ground-bass form.

Q: During his lifetime, Johann Sebastian Bach was known primarily as a great organist.

Q: Describe how opera originated in Italy and then spread throughout Europe, including England. Be sure to include the names of composers and works.

Q: Describe the various components of opera, commenting on the function of each in the drama.

Q: An opera is a drama that is sung.

Q: The aria When I am laid in earth is accompanied by continuo only.

Q: The aria When I am laid in earth is unified by a descending chromatic-scale, ground bass.

Q: Purcells Dido and Aeneas was first performed in a public opera house.

Q: In seventeenth-century England, the masque was a popular type of aristocratic entertainment that combined vocal and instrumental music with poetry and dance.

Q: The first public opera houses opened in Venice.

Q: Early operas, such as Monteverdis Orfeo, were simple productions for intimate gatherings.

Q: In opera, the lyric melodies that release emotional tension are called recitatives.

Q: The musical interludes heard between scenes of an opera are called: a. overtures. c. arias. b. sinfonias. d. recitatives.

Q: Didos Lament from Purcells opera Dido and Aeneas is composed: a. over a ground bass. b. in the style of imitative counterpoint. c. in the ternary form common to the genre. d. in the ritornello form of the period.

Q: Dido sings her famous lament in Purcells opera Dido and Aeneas just prior to: a. marrying Aeneas. c. killing herself. b. killing Aeneas. d. leaving with Aeneas.

Q: On which epic poem was Purcells opera Dido and Aeneas based? a. Miltons Paradise Lost c. Homers Iliad b. Homers Odyssey d. Virgils Aeneid

Q: Who was the librettist of Purcells Dido and Aeneas? a. Josias Priest c. John Milton b. Nahum Tate d. John Donne

Q: The first performance of Purcells opera Dido and Aeneas took place at: a. the Royal Opera in London. c. a girls school in London. b. the Metropolitan Opera. d. La Scala in Milan.

Q: The most well known native-born English composer of the Baroque was: a. George Frideric Handel. c. Henry Purcell. b. Thomas Morley. d. Oliver Cromwell.

Q: A type of English entertainment combining music, poetry, and dance was called: a. tragdie lyrique. c. masque. b. monody. d. oratorio.

Q: Which cultural center rejected Italian opera? a. France c. Germany b. England d. Austria

Q: Who composed Orfeo and was also recognized for having solidified early experiments with music dramas into the genre now called opera? a. Monteverdi c. Handel b. Purcell d. Puccini

Q: The text of an opera is called: a. the lyrics. c. the script. b. the libretto. d. the play.

Q: The orchestral introduction heard at the beginning of an opera is called: a. an overture. c. an ensemble. b. a ritornello. d. a recitative.

Q: A highly emotional song in an opera is called: a. an aria. c. an ensemble. b. a chorus. d. a recitative.

Q: The vocal style in opera that imitates the natural inflections of speech is called: a. recitative. c. chorus. b. aria. d. madrigal.