LAS MAS MUS 337 FINAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ beat. Answer: the basic, underlying pulse of the music
◉ meter. Answer: the organization of beats into regularly recurring
groups of beats
◉ monophonic. Answer: a texture that consists of a single melodic
line with no accompaniment
◉ homophonic. Answer: a texture that consists of a prominent
melody with subordinate harmony (accompanying material)
◉ polyphonic. Answer: a texture that consists of two or more
melodic lines
◉ timbre. Answer: the "tone color" of a sound, as between
instruments
◉ dynamics. Answer: the relative loudness or volume level of a piece
of music
,◉ dissonance (dissonant). Answer: harmonies that have a harsh,
grating quality
◉ consonance (consonant). Answer: sounds that feel at rest, stable,
pleasing
◉ Gregorian Chant. Answer: Medieval period, monophonic, vocal
music of the Roman Catholic church
◉ imitative polyphony. Answer: polyphonic texture in which each
voice imitates what a previous voice has already stated
◉ basso conitnuo. Answer: the Baroque period instrumental
practice of coupling low-pitched instruments with a harpsichord (or
organ), providing a harmonic and rhythmic foundation for the music
◉ ordinary (of the Mass). Answer: the five specific texts that appear
in all (or almost all) masses
◉ oratorio. Answer: sacred vocal genre consisting of multiple
movements; originally for concert performance (NOT part of a
church service), common in the Baroque era and in 20th/21st
centuries; uses arias, recitatives, choruses; based on text from the
Bible
, ◉ cantata. Answer: sacred vocal genre consisting of multiple
movements; originally performed during a church service, common
in the Baroque era and in 20th/21st centuries; uses arias,
recitatives, choruses; based on a sacred text (but not usually directly
from the Bible)
◉ recitative. Answer: for a solo singer, sung at approximately a
spoken pace, words are typically not repeated, usually has lighter
accompaniment than an aria,; used in operas, cantatas, and oratorios
◉ aria. Answer: for a solo singer, text is sung at a slower pace than a
recitative, often repeats words, often has a larger accompaniment
than a recitative, sometimes the full ensemble; used in operas,
cantatas, and oratorios
◉ opera seria. Answer: serious opera, common during the Baroque
and Classical periods
◉ opera buffa. Answer: comic opera, common during the Baroque
and Classical periods
◉ verismo. Answer: late nineteenth-century Italian opera/literary
style that emphasized real-life situations
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ beat. Answer: the basic, underlying pulse of the music
◉ meter. Answer: the organization of beats into regularly recurring
groups of beats
◉ monophonic. Answer: a texture that consists of a single melodic
line with no accompaniment
◉ homophonic. Answer: a texture that consists of a prominent
melody with subordinate harmony (accompanying material)
◉ polyphonic. Answer: a texture that consists of two or more
melodic lines
◉ timbre. Answer: the "tone color" of a sound, as between
instruments
◉ dynamics. Answer: the relative loudness or volume level of a piece
of music
,◉ dissonance (dissonant). Answer: harmonies that have a harsh,
grating quality
◉ consonance (consonant). Answer: sounds that feel at rest, stable,
pleasing
◉ Gregorian Chant. Answer: Medieval period, monophonic, vocal
music of the Roman Catholic church
◉ imitative polyphony. Answer: polyphonic texture in which each
voice imitates what a previous voice has already stated
◉ basso conitnuo. Answer: the Baroque period instrumental
practice of coupling low-pitched instruments with a harpsichord (or
organ), providing a harmonic and rhythmic foundation for the music
◉ ordinary (of the Mass). Answer: the five specific texts that appear
in all (or almost all) masses
◉ oratorio. Answer: sacred vocal genre consisting of multiple
movements; originally for concert performance (NOT part of a
church service), common in the Baroque era and in 20th/21st
centuries; uses arias, recitatives, choruses; based on text from the
Bible
, ◉ cantata. Answer: sacred vocal genre consisting of multiple
movements; originally performed during a church service, common
in the Baroque era and in 20th/21st centuries; uses arias,
recitatives, choruses; based on a sacred text (but not usually directly
from the Bible)
◉ recitative. Answer: for a solo singer, sung at approximately a
spoken pace, words are typically not repeated, usually has lighter
accompaniment than an aria,; used in operas, cantatas, and oratorios
◉ aria. Answer: for a solo singer, text is sung at a slower pace than a
recitative, often repeats words, often has a larger accompaniment
than a recitative, sometimes the full ensemble; used in operas,
cantatas, and oratorios
◉ opera seria. Answer: serious opera, common during the Baroque
and Classical periods
◉ opera buffa. Answer: comic opera, common during the Baroque
and Classical periods
◉ verismo. Answer: late nineteenth-century Italian opera/literary
style that emphasized real-life situations
