MA Final Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Characteristics of Plainchant - CORRECT ANSWER Monophony, Conjunct, Narrow
range, Non-metered, Latin text
Neume - CORRECT ANSWER Early note (Neumatic = few notes per syllable)
Organum - CORRECT ANSWER Earliest polyphony, Leonin & Perotin were earliest
composers, Melodic line added to plainchant melody
Troubadour/Trouveres - CORRECT ANSWER Poet composers
Hildegard von Bingen - CORRECT ANSWER 1st great woman composer
Nun, writer, mystic
Leonin & Perotin - CORRECT ANSWER Earliest composers of organum
Motet - CORRECT ANSWER Sacred polyphonic vocal work, 5 sections
Mass - CORRECT ANSWER Sacred SHORT polyphonic vocal work
Madrigal - CORRECT ANSWER Secular vocal song
Word Painting - CORRECT ANSWER Music illustrates text
Ayre - CORRECT ANSWER Lute song; voice & lute
John Dowland - CORRECT ANSWER Lutenist & spy
, Carlo Gesualdo - CORRECT ANSWER Chromatic madrigals, murderer
Basso continuo - CORRECT ANSWER Continuous bass; chord instrument &
sustaining instrument
Harpsichord - CORRECT ANSWER Plucked keyboard
Concerto Grosso - CORRECT ANSWER 3 movements; group of soloists and orchestra
Ritornello form - CORRECT ANSWER Orchesta & soloists alternate
Fugue - CORRECT ANSWER Polyphonic work
Opera - CORRECT ANSWER Sung drama
Libretto - CORRECT ANSWER Name of the Text
Recitative - CORRECT ANSWER Speech-like singing
Aria - CORRECT ANSWER Lyrical solo song
Overture - CORRECT ANSWER Before opera
Suite - CORRECT ANSWER Dances
Oratorio - CORRECT ANSWER Un-staged opera
CORRECT ANSWERS
Characteristics of Plainchant - CORRECT ANSWER Monophony, Conjunct, Narrow
range, Non-metered, Latin text
Neume - CORRECT ANSWER Early note (Neumatic = few notes per syllable)
Organum - CORRECT ANSWER Earliest polyphony, Leonin & Perotin were earliest
composers, Melodic line added to plainchant melody
Troubadour/Trouveres - CORRECT ANSWER Poet composers
Hildegard von Bingen - CORRECT ANSWER 1st great woman composer
Nun, writer, mystic
Leonin & Perotin - CORRECT ANSWER Earliest composers of organum
Motet - CORRECT ANSWER Sacred polyphonic vocal work, 5 sections
Mass - CORRECT ANSWER Sacred SHORT polyphonic vocal work
Madrigal - CORRECT ANSWER Secular vocal song
Word Painting - CORRECT ANSWER Music illustrates text
Ayre - CORRECT ANSWER Lute song; voice & lute
John Dowland - CORRECT ANSWER Lutenist & spy
, Carlo Gesualdo - CORRECT ANSWER Chromatic madrigals, murderer
Basso continuo - CORRECT ANSWER Continuous bass; chord instrument &
sustaining instrument
Harpsichord - CORRECT ANSWER Plucked keyboard
Concerto Grosso - CORRECT ANSWER 3 movements; group of soloists and orchestra
Ritornello form - CORRECT ANSWER Orchesta & soloists alternate
Fugue - CORRECT ANSWER Polyphonic work
Opera - CORRECT ANSWER Sung drama
Libretto - CORRECT ANSWER Name of the Text
Recitative - CORRECT ANSWER Speech-like singing
Aria - CORRECT ANSWER Lyrical solo song
Overture - CORRECT ANSWER Before opera
Suite - CORRECT ANSWER Dances
Oratorio - CORRECT ANSWER Un-staged opera
