Chapter 9 Quiz 2

. Which statement about Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1 is true?

Stylistically the piece imitates the works of F.J. Haydn.

The harmonies are distinctly modern, but most other elements are Classical in nature.

It and Stravinsky's Pulchinella are considered quintessential "Neoclassical" pieces.

All of the above.

. Consider the following statement and choose the best response: "Neoclassical music rejects the musical philosophies of both Romanticism and Expressionism by using small ensembles, styles and genres from the Baroque and Classical eras, and simple programmatic scenarios."

The statement is true.

The statement is false because Neoclassical pieces typically use large ensembles.

The statement is false because most Neoclassical music is absolute, not programmatic.

The statement is false because Neoclassical composers drew strictly from Classical styles and genres.

. Which is the term for a seven-note scale used by many French composers?

Whole-tone

Pentatonic

Octatonic

Church mode

. Which of the following was likely a contributing factor to the relatively conservative compositional style of Sergei Prokofiev?

An early personal conflict with Arnold Schoenberg

His commitment to writing music for the newly popularized cinema

His upbringing and early life in the Russian countryside

The Soviet government's suspicion of anything "elitist" or avant-garde

. Why did composers start writing for smaller ensembles than the symphony during the 20th century?

Most audiences expressed disinterest in both larger ensembles and the Romantic-style works that necessitated them.

Economic problems due to the two world wars made larger ensembles impractical.

There were fewer musicians skilled enough to play in such ensembles.

The music they were writing was more difficult than Romantic music, meaning they had to write for smaller numbers of elite musicians.

. Which is the best example of Sprechstimme?

A performance in which a woodwind player "speaks" into the mouthpiece of their instrument.

A melody in which each pitch is assigned a distinct tone color.

A style in which dissonant sounds are not resolved to consonance.

A piece in which text is recited on a set of specified pitches.

. Which statement about John Adams's life and work is NOT true?

He won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for his work, Short Ride in a Fast Machine.

His work is unusual for minimalism in that in he makes use of motivic development

His music draws on eclectic sources such as pop music, Americana, and world music

He has composed in a wide variety of genres, including film score, electronic music, and opera

. For which of the following "isms" are the majority of prominent composers American?

Minimalism

Expressionism

Neoclassicism

Impressionism

. Most of the five "orchestral isms" discussed in this chapter are predominantly performed on large concert hall stages, with which notable exception?

Expressionist suites

Impressionist symphonies

Neo-Romantic film music

Minimalist program music

. Which statement about Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire is NOT true?

It was written for female voice and chamber ensemble.

The song cycle is in two broad sections that move from tragedy to comedy.

The work features a clown from the Italian comic tradition.

There is little in the way of recognizable melody or tune.

. Consider the following statement and choose the best response: "Schoenberg's creative output met with hostility and derision for many years, which did not fade until a prestigious offer from the University of Southern California convinced him to immigrate to the United States.

The statement is true.

The statement is false because Schoenberg's music was received with critical acclaim.

The statement is false because it was Boston Conservatory that hired Schoenberg.

The statement is false because Schoenberg immigrated due to anti-Semitism in his native Austria.

. Why was the Paris International Exposition of 1889 so crucial in the development of 20th century music?

It introduced French composers to the music of Wagner.

It was at this event that Schoenberg met his future disciples, Webern and Berg.

The performances of musical ensembles from Spain and Asia had a significant effect on the harmonic language of Claude Debussy, who was in attendance.

It was the international debut of Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

. Which of the five "isms" emphasizes a return to the use of large symphonic forms and ensembles?

Minimalism

Neoromanticism

Expressionism

Serialism

. Which statement about impressionism is NOT true?

Rhythms are fluid in impressionist music, rather than propulsive or accented.

Parallel motion of chords became an accepted compositional technique.

Impressionist composers often used instruments in nontraditional range/dynamic combinations to create a shimmering sound.

Impressionists used harmonic devices that created strong pulls toward a central pitch within each piece.

. What do Adams and Corigliano have in common?

Both have won Pulitzer Prizes.

Both have composed scores for films.

Both studied music on the Eastern seaboard of the United States.

All of the above.

Chapter 9 Quiz 2

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