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Seven days of questions and answers

Music Trivia Answers Archive

Review earlier daily rounds, reveal the correct answer, and use the short explanation to learn the fact behind each question. Page 10 of 12 covers seven completed UTC days.

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Daily round

  1. Which metal traditionally forms an orchestral timpano’s bowl?

    Answer: copper

    Orchestral timpani traditionally use bowl-shaped copper kettles.

  2. Which voice part is highest in a standard SATB choir?

    Answer: Soprano

    Soprano is the highest standard choral voice part.

  3. What happens to a metronome’s click spacing when its BPM setting increases?

    Answer: the clicks move closer together

    A higher beats-per-minute setting places the metronome’s clicks closer together in time.

  4. What does a crescendo require without fixing a final volume?

    Answer: an increase from the current dynamic

    A crescendo requires the sound to grow from its current level; it does not prescribe one fixed endpoint.

  5. What rhythmic technique accents normally weak beats or offbeats?

    Answer: Syncopation

    Syncopation is the accenting notes where emphasis is not normally expected.

Daily round

  1. What interval separates adjacent piano keys?

    Answer: a semitone

    Adjacent piano keys are a semitone apart.

  2. What does the sustain pedal do?

    Answer: lets notes continue sounding

    Its sustain pedal lets notes continue sounding.

  3. What abbreviation commonly stands for crescendo?

    Answer: cresc.

    Its abbreviation is often cresc..

  4. Which voice part sits immediately above bass?

    Answer: tenor

    It sits below tenor in a typical SATB choir.

  5. What two broad methods can perform a melody?

    Answer: singing or playing

    It may be sung or played.

Daily round

  1. How many valves does a common modern trumpet have?

    Answer: three valves

    A common modern trumpet has three valves.

  2. From which language does adagio come?

    Answer: the Italian language

    The tempo word adagio comes from Italian.

  3. What organizes durations, rests, and accents in music?

    Answer: Rhythm

    Rhythm is the organization of note lengths, rests, and accents.

  4. What is standard guitar tuning from lowest to highest?

    Answer: E, A, D, G, B, E

    Standard tuning begins E, A, D, G, B, E.

  5. Which note does the bass clef’s reference line represent?

    Answer: F below middle C

    That line represents F below middle C.

Daily round

  1. Which voice part sits immediately below soprano?

    Answer: alto

    It sits above alto in a typical SATB choir.

  2. Which note does the treble clef’s reference line represent?

    Answer: G above middle C

    That line represents G above middle C.

  3. Which side-blown woodwind makes sound as air crosses an embouchure hole?

    Answer: Flute

    Flute is the side-blown instrument whose modern orchestral form is usually metal.

  4. From which language does allegro come?

    Answer: Italian

    The tempo word allegro comes from Italian.

  5. Which two chord qualities are especially common?

    Answer: major and minor

    Major and minor are common qualities.

Daily round

  1. By what interval does one fret normally change a guitar string’s pitch?

    Answer: one semitone

    Adjacent frets on a standard guitar normally divide the octave into semitone steps.

  2. Where does the clarinet reed vibrate?

    Answer: against its mouthpiece

    A clarinet reed vibrates against its mouthpiece.

  3. How many letter-name notes does an octave span?

    Answer: eight

    An octave spans eight letter-name notes.

  4. Which marking is softer than piano?

    Answer: pianissimo

    Pianissimo is softer.

  5. What material is named by the Greek root xylon in xylophone?

    Answer: wood

    The name xylophone combines Greek roots referring to wood and sound.

Daily round

  1. Which hairpin shape can represent a crescendo?

    Answer: an opening hairpin

    An opening hairpin represents a crescendo.

  2. How does adagio’s typical tempo compare with allegro?

    Answer: slower

    It is slower than allegro in ordinary usage.

  3. Which letter represents piano in a score?

    Answer: p

    The standard dynamic symbol for piano is p.

  4. Which keyboard instrument sounds strings with felt-covered hammers?

    Answer: Piano

    Piano is the keyboard instrument whose strings are struck by felt-covered hammers.

  5. What is an organized line of pitches heard as a tune?

    Answer: Melody

    Melody is the organized succession of pitches heard as a tune.

Daily round

  1. What does syncopation create against a regular pulse?

    Answer: rhythmic tension

    It creates tension against the regular pulse.

  2. How many strings does a standard guitar normally have?

    Answer: six

    A standard guitar normally has six strings.

  3. Which orchestral leader commonly coordinates the string section’s bowing?

    Answer: the concertmaster

    The concertmaster works with the conductor and string principals to coordinate bowing decisions.

  4. Which voice part is lowest in a standard SATB choir?

    Answer: Bass voice

    Bass voice is the lowest standard choral voice part.

  5. Which dynamic marking means loud?

    Answer: Forte

    Forte is the instruction to play loudly.