DOMAIN 2 - Music Theory & Composition

  1. Which of the following best completes the measure show below?

2. This excerpt is representative of which of the following styles of music from the United States?

  • INCORRECT - A Deceptive Cadence ends on an unexpected chord - the music literally does sound like it has been “interrupted”.

  • Option B is Correct! This excerpt ends on the dominant chord (V). The type of cadence tht ends on dominant chord is called a half cadence.

  • INCORRECT: Swing music is a style of jazz that developed in the United States in the late 20’s & early 30’s. The name derived from it’s offf-beat, or nominally weak r beat. Swing bands would usually feature soloist who would improvise on the melody over the arrangement.

  • CORRECT!
    This question tasks the test-taker with identifying the stylistic features of a sampled piece of American music. Ragtime, a genre often played on the piano, is known for its specific musical attributes. These include a duple meter, syncopation, four-bar phrase structures, and a consistent pattern of alternating low bass notes on the beat with mid-range chords off the beat.

3. Which of the following instruments is featured as the soloist in this music example?

  • CORRECT! This query tasks the examinee with recognizing an orchestral instrument featured in a provided audio sample. The excerpt is from a concerto where the oboe serves as the solo instrument. The oboe's bright and penetrating timbre is attributed to its conical bore and double reed.

  • INCORRECT: The soloist instrument is definitely not a clarinet.

  • INCORRECT: Although that Flutes are heard in the musical texture, Flute is not the Soloist for this concerto.

  • INCORRECT: Bassoon is not the Soloist for this concerto.

4. What is the probable style period of this piece?

  • CORRECT! This is an example of a Oboe Concerto.

  • INCORRECT: The soloist instrument is definitely not a clarinet.

  • CORRECT!
    The example played was the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G, 2nd Mvt.

  • INCORRECT: Bassoon is not the Soloist for this concerto.

5. Name the mode heard in the example below.

  • CORRECT! This is an example of a Oboe Concerto.

  • INCORRECT: The soloist instrument is definitely not a clarinet.

  • CORRECT!
    A scale example of the Lydian mode would be starting on F and ending on F playing all White Keys on the Piano.
    (W-W-W-H-W-W-H) Often used in Movie Soundtracks because it produces a sound that is dreamy, heaven-like and mysterious, while still keeping the happy and quirky harmonics.

  • INCORRECT: Bassoon is not the Soloist for this concerto.

7. Name the type of chord heard in this example.

  • CORRECT! This is an example of a Oboe Concerto.

  • INCORRECT: The soloist instrument is definitely not a clarinet.

  • INCORRECT: Although that Flutes are heard in the musical texture, Flute is not the Soloist for this concerto.

  • INCORRECT: Bassoon is not the Soloist for this concerto.

8. Who is the probable composer of this piece.

  • CORRECT! This is an example of a Oboe Concerto.

  • INCORRECT: The soloist instrument is definitely not a clarinet.

  • CORRECT!
    This is a short excerpt of Magyar kepek - znekarra Sz.97 (1931) Mvt. 2 - Composed by Bela Bartok. Bela Bartok was born in 1881 and composed music until 1945. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century.

  • INCORRECT: Bassoon is not the Soloist for this concerto.