CHAPTER 8 Text and Music
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The term nonlexical refers to a text that
a. is in a vernacular language. c. has no repetitions.
b. consists of nonsense syllables. d. features a play on words.
2. Scat-singing is common in
a. jazz. c. Renaissance madrigals.
b. Asian music. d. Christmas carols.
3. The term vocalise refers to
a. all vocal music. c. a wordless melody.
b. music in jazz. d. an elaborate melody with a Latin text.
4. The language of the Roman Empire and of the Roman Catholic Church through most of its history was
a. Italian. c. Greek.
b. German. d. Latin.
5. Rhymed units in poetry are called
a. strophes. c. choruses.
b. lyrics. d. cadences.
6. The term refrain refers to
a. a central idea in the text. c. the beginning and ending of a poem.
b. the avoidance of repetition. d. words and music that repeat in a poem.
7. The setting of one note per syllable is called
a. melismatic. c. neumatic.
b. syllabic. d. word-painting.
8. The extended melodic line on the word rejoice in Handel’s Messiah is a(n)
a. improvisation. c. refrain.
b. melisma. d. example of neumatic music.
9. The use of a few notes for each syllable is called
a. melismatic. c. neumatic.
b. syllabic. d. word-painting.
10. The depiction of the meaning of a text in music is called
a. symbolic. c. melisma.
b. word-painting. d. textualization.
11. The common language spoken by the people is called
a. the vernacular. c. vocalise.
b. secular. d. sacred.
12. What type of music has traditionally been in vernacular languages?
a. secular c. nonlexical
b. liturgical d. melismatic
13. Happy Birthday uses which type of text setting?
a. syllabic c. neumatic
b. melismatic d. word-painting
14. Some pop singers use ________ as part of their signature style.
a. melismas c. strophes
b. vernacular d. None of the answers shown here.
15. The opposite of secular music is
a. scat-singing. c. melismatic music.
b. religious music (liturgical). d. neumatic music.
1. The term song technically refers to all music, with or without words.
2. The Greek philosopher Plato felt that music without words was lacking in artistic taste.
3. Vocal music must use recognizable words.
4. The vernacular is the common language of a people.
5. In the composition of songs, the music always comes first.
6. Singing on a neutral vowel like “ah” is called scat-singing.
7. A vocal improvisation using wordless vocables like “Shoo–be–doo–be–doo–wop” is called vocalise.
8. Words that recur after each stanza are called the refrain or chorus.
9. Many notes set to one syllable of text are called melismatic.
10. Capturing the meaning of a word or idea through music is called word-painting.
ESSAY
1. Describe how nonlexical syllables can contribute to the music and its broad meaning. Cite specific examples.
2. What are the terms that describe the various text settings available to a composer? Cite an example of each.