CHAPTER 9 Voices and Instrument Families
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What are the four properties of musical sound?
a. pitch, duration, volume, timbre
b. texture, pitch, volume, timbre
c. duration, texture, volume, pitch
d. timbre, texture, duration, volume
2. The quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another is
a. timbre. c. tempo.
b. pitch. d. volume.
3. The term timbre refers to the ________ of a tone.
a. length c. color
b. pitch d. loudness
4. A mechanism that generates musical vibrations and launches them into the air is called a(n)
a. mute. c. baton.
b. podium. d. instrument.
5. A specific area within the range of a voice or instrument, such as high, middle, or low, is called its
a. timbre. c. register.
b. volume. d. form.
6. The standard ranges of the human voice, from highest to lowest, are
a. soprano, alto, tenor, bass. c. tenor, soprano, alto, bass.
b. bass, tenor, soprano, alto. d. soprano, tenor, alto, bass.
7. Which of the following voices has the lowest range?
a. baritone c. tenor
b. bass d. alto
8. The generally accepted term for the high male vocal range is
a. bass. c. alto.
b. tenor. d. soprano.
9. The human voice
a. is an unnatural musical instrument.
b. is limited in character and range.
c. possesses lyric beauty and expressiveness that has been a model for instrument builders and players.
d. can be made to sound like any instrument.
10. Instruments that produce sound by using air as the vibrating means are called
a. aerophones. c. idiophones.
b. chordophones. d. membranophones.
11. Instruments that produce sound from a vibrating string are called
a. aerophones. c. idiophones.
b. chordophones. d. membranophones.
12. Which of the following musical instruments is an example of an aerophone?
a. violin c. bagpipes
b. guitar d. yangquin
13. How do performers cause idiophones to produce sound?
a. by making a string vibrate
b. by setting a column of air to vibrating
c. by shaking, scraping, or striking the instrument itself
d. by striking a tightly stretched membrane
14. Drum-type instruments fall into the category of
a. aerophones. c. idiophones.
b. chordophones. d. membranophones.
15. The guitar is an example of a(n)
a. aerophone. c. chordophone.
b. idiophone. d. membranophone.
16. The Mbira, or African “thumb piano,” is an example of a(n)
a. idiophone. c. membranophone.
b. chordophone. d. aerophone.
17. A throbbing effect used as an expressive device to intensify a sound is called
a. vibrato. c. register.
b. timbre. d. soprano.
TRUE/FALSE
1. Throughout history, women’s voices have played a central role in the performance of church music.
2. In some cultures, women’s voices are preferred for certain styles of music.
3. Throughout history, the voice has been a model for instrumentalists and instrument builders.
4. Flutes and whistles are classified as idiophones.
5. A guitar is an example of a chordophone.
6. The standard vocal ranges for female voices are soprano, tenor, and alto.
7. The standard vocal ranges for male voices are tenor, baritone, and mezzo-soprano.
8. Besides pitch, duration, and volume, timbre or tone color is the fourth property of sound.
9. The specific area in the range of an instrument or voice is called register.
10. Wind instruments are classified as aerophones.
ESSAY
1. Describe the variety of musical sounds the human voice is capable of producing. Consider issues such as range, social function,
historical period, and regional styles.
2. Describe the four categories of musical instruments around the world and how they each produce sound. Cite an example of each.
3. What is the need for a method of classifying instruments based solely on the way their sounds are generated?