Twentieth-Century Music
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CLEP Humanities › Twentieth-Century Music
Which of the following is typical instrument to find in a rock 'n' roll band?
Electric bass
Oboe
Banjo
Lute
Harpsichord
Explanation
Rock 'n' roll developed in the mid-twentieth century as a combination of other genres, such as blues, country, and jazz. Despite its eclectic origins, the music was usually stripped down, featuring limited combos. The typical instrumentation of a rock combo is one or more guitars, electric bass, drums, and occasionally a piano, organ, or horns.
Which of the following is typical instrument to find in a rock 'n' roll band?
Electric bass
Oboe
Banjo
Lute
Harpsichord
Explanation
Rock 'n' roll developed in the mid-twentieth century as a combination of other genres, such as blues, country, and jazz. Despite its eclectic origins, the music was usually stripped down, featuring limited combos. The typical instrumentation of a rock combo is one or more guitars, electric bass, drums, and occasionally a piano, organ, or horns.
In a musical time signature, the top number indicates .
the number of beats in a measure
the length of each beat
which kind of notes should be played
the tempo the musician should play
the total number of notes in the piece
Explanation
The time signature is two numbers, which are stacked one on top of the other and are placed at the beginning of a piece of music. The top number indicates how many beats are in each measure. The bottom number indicates how long each beat will last, with a four meaning a quarter more, and an eight an eighth note.
On a piano, the black keys indicate .
non-natural notes
lower register notes
higher register notes
shifting notes
droning tones
Explanation
The eighty-eight notes on a keyboard are produced by pressing white and black keys. The black keys are positioned slightly higher and farther back, as they hold all of the sharp and flat notes on the twelve-tone chromatic scale. This arrangement allows the natural notes to be played more easily, and make the non-natural notes more obvious.
On a piano, the black keys indicate .
non-natural notes
lower register notes
higher register notes
shifting notes
droning tones
Explanation
The eighty-eight notes on a keyboard are produced by pressing white and black keys. The black keys are positioned slightly higher and farther back, as they hold all of the sharp and flat notes on the twelve-tone chromatic scale. This arrangement allows the natural notes to be played more easily, and make the non-natural notes more obvious.
In a musical time signature, the top number indicates .
the number of beats in a measure
the length of each beat
which kind of notes should be played
the tempo the musician should play
the total number of notes in the piece
Explanation
The time signature is two numbers, which are stacked one on top of the other and are placed at the beginning of a piece of music. The top number indicates how many beats are in each measure. The bottom number indicates how long each beat will last, with a four meaning a quarter more, and an eight an eighth note.
The note "piano" above a clef on a sheet of music indicates that the musician should .
play the music softly
play the music briskly
take a brief pause
only use a keyboard instrument
play the music slowly
Explanation
In musical notation, the note "piano" above a clef indicates that the music should be played softly. Often such a mark, sometimes abbreviated with just a "p," will come in the middle of a piece to indicate a change of volume. The opposite notation is "forte," which indicates that the music should be played loudly.
The note "piano" above a clef on a sheet of music indicates that the musician should .
play the music softly
play the music briskly
take a brief pause
only use a keyboard instrument
play the music slowly
Explanation
In musical notation, the note "piano" above a clef indicates that the music should be played softly. Often such a mark, sometimes abbreviated with just a "p," will come in the middle of a piece to indicate a change of volume. The opposite notation is "forte," which indicates that the music should be played loudly.
Based on the way in which each instrument produces sound, which of the following instruments is most similar to an accordion?
Harmonica
Guitar
Violin
Flute
Trumpet
Explanation
Although configured and played quite differently, both the accordion and the harmonica produce sound by having air blow over free reeds. While the accordion has buttons to open and close specific reeds, a harmonica player blows over a specific hole to create the desired tone.
Based on the way in which each instrument produces sound, which of the following instruments is most similar to an accordion?
Harmonica
Guitar
Violin
Flute
Trumpet
Explanation
Although configured and played quite differently, both the accordion and the harmonica produce sound by having air blow over free reeds. While the accordion has buttons to open and close specific reeds, a harmonica player blows over a specific hole to create the desired tone.