Chapter Five
1. When we speak about dynamics in music we are referring to music’s levels of
a. amplitude
b. duration
c. frequency
d. timbre
2. Decrescendo describes a tone that
a. gradually gets louder
b. gradually gets softer
c. has terraced dynamics
3. _______ is the character or quality of a musical tone.
a. Timbre
b. Acoustics
c. Harmonics
4. Instruments that are not amplified electronically are
a. idiophones
b. chordophones
c. acoustic
d. harmonic
5. Every tone is actually comprised of multiple pitches called partials or ___________.
a. dynamic range
b. harmonics
c. ensembles
6. When we learn that a particular piece of music uses an ensemble consisting of three singers, a violinist, and a guitarist, we have learned about its ___________ .
a. instrumentation
b. dynamics
c. amplitude
7. The classification system of instruments based on “-phones” was created by
a. the ancient Chinese
b. the ’Are’are of Malaita
c. two musicologists named Hornbostel and Sachs
8. A drum is classified as
a. a chordophone
b. an aerophone
c. a membranophone
d. an idiophone
9. A piano is classified as
a. a chordophone
b. an aerophone
c. a membranophone
d. an idiophone
10. An instrument in which the vibration of the body of the instrument itself produces the sound is
a. a chordophone
b. an aerophone
c. a membranophone
d. an idiophone
11. The didgeridoo is classified as
a. a chordophone
b. an aerophone
c. a membranophone
d. an idiophone
12. An electric guitar is best classified as a
a. chordophone
b. pure electronophone
c. hybrid electronophone
13. Digital samplers are classified as
a. sound generators
b. sound modifiers
c. hybrid electronophones
14. Differences in ________ allow us to distinguish between vocal tones, trumpet tones, and flute tones.
a. amplitude
b. frequency
c. timbre
15. An instrument in which the sound is activated by the vibration of strings over a resonating chamber is
a. an aerophone
b. a chordophone
c. a membranophone
d. an idiophone
16. The multitrack recording process of layering many separate musical tracks is called
a. harmonicizing
b. overdubbing
c. digital sampling
Listening
1. Which of these examples has the widest dynamic range (the widest range between softest and loudest notes)?
a. “A Funny Way of Asking” (disk 1, track 19.
b. “Thgirbla W” (disk 1, track 29.
c. “What Is a Pan?” (disk 1, track 30)
d. They all have about the same dynamic range
2. Which of these three recordings feature vocal timbre that sounds the most “tense and strained?”
a. “Khawatim Soorat” (disk 1, track 4)
b. “Hymn Viseisei Church” (disk 1, track 11)
c. “Ibis” (disk 1, track 13)
d. vocal timbre is all about the same
3. How would you describe the timbre of disk 1, track 30, “What is a Pan?”
a. dark
b. nasal
c. raspy
d. metallic
4. How would you best describe the timbre of the lead voice on disk 1, track 25, “Eagle Dance”?
a. smooth and silky
b. light and airy
c. tense and strained
d. rich and mellow
5. The type of instrument heard in disk 1, track 31, “Axis” would be classified as
a. a chordophone
b. an aerophone
c. a membranophone
d. an idiophone
6. In addition to vocals one can hear __________ on disk 1, track 20, “Cielito Lindo.”
a. aerophones and chordophones
b. chordophones and idiophones
c. aerophones and membranophones
d. all instrument types
7. What instrument types can be heard on disk 1, track 32, “Pan Pipes of Buma”?
a. aerophones and chordophones
b. aerophones and idiophones
c. membranophones and chordophones
d. all instrument types
8. The instrument accompanying the voice in disk 1, track 6, “Chandmani Nutag” is a
a. bowed chordophone
b. plucked idiophone
c. plucked chordophone
d. struck idiophone
Essay
1. Define timbre and discuss how its various components help to distinguish sound quality. Then, name some of your favorite singers and think of descriptive words that best describe the timbre of their singing voices. Describe as many different sounding singers as you can.
2. What is the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, and how is it organized? Provide examples of instruments for each category.
3. Describe how musical instruments have been classified by the ‘Are’are people of Malaita and how musical instruments are usually classified in Western culture. Explain the limitations of such systems.