Chapter 3: Harmony: Musical Depth
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which term describes the simultaneous combination of sounds?
a. texture c. dissonance
b. harmony d. melody
2. Harmony is to music as __________ is to painting.
a. the frame c. perspective
b. color d. the brush
3. A combination of three or more tones is called:
a. an interval. c. an octave.
b. a scale. d. a chord.
4. A collection of pitches arranged in ascending or descending order is called:
a. a scale. c. an interval.
b. a chord. d. an octave.
5. An interval of eight notes is called:
a. a chord. c. a triad.
b. a fifth. d. an octave.
6. A triad is:
a. the most common chord type found in Western music.
b. a three-note chord.
c. built on alternate scale steps.
d. all of the answers shown here
7. The first note of the scale is called the:
a. octave. c. tonic.
b. triad. d. dominant.
8. The principle of organization around a central tone is called:
a. chromaticism. c. consonance.
b. tonality. d. centralization.
9. A combination of tones that sounds discordant, unstable, or in need of resolution is called a:
a. cadence. c. dissonance.
b. consonance. d. tonality.
10. Which of the following terms describes a concordant, or agreeable, combination of tones?
a. conjunct c. disjunct
b. consonant d. dissonant
11. Harmony consisting of a single, sustained pitch is called:
a. melody. c. tonic.
b. drone. d. triad.
12. In the organizational system known as tonality, we hear a piece of music in relation to a central
tone, called:
a. the dominant. c. the tonic.
b. the mediant. d. the leading tone.
TRUE/FALSE
1. Harmony is important to most non-Western musical cultures.
2. A triad is a chord made up of three tones.
3. Three alternating notes of a scale, sounded simultaneously, form a triad.
4. Melody and harmony function independently of each other.
5. The principle of organization around a central tone is called tonality.
6. The two scale types commonly found in Western music from about 1650 to 1900 are major and
minor.
7. Harmonic movement in music derives its maximum tension from consonance.
8. A combination of tones that is discordant and unstable produces a consonance.
9. The principle of organization whereby we hear a piece of music in relation to a central tone is
called tonality.
10. When three or more notes are sounded together, a chord is produced.
ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: Essentials: p. 14
TOP: Harmony MSC: Factual
ESSAY
1. Describe the relationship between melody and harmony in music.
ANS:
Answers will vary.
PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: Essentials: pp. 14–15
TOP: Harmony MSC: Conceptual
2. Describe the role of dissonance in harmony.
ANS:
Answers will vary.
PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: Essentials: pp. 15–16
TOP: Harmony MSC: Conceptual
3. Describe the harmony a composer might use to write a film score.
ANS:
Answers will vary.
PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: Essentials: pp. 14–16
TOP: Harmony MSC: Applied