Name: ___________________________ Hour: ______ Date: _________________

Music History Diagnostic Test

Instructions: This test will focus your knowledge of music history. Your performance on this assessment
will not directly affect your grade. The purpose of this test is determine what you know (and what you
do not know). Answer each question to the best of your ability! Note: If you are caught cheating, sharing
answers, or otherwise not doing your own work, you will be penalized and your overall grade in the class
WILL be lowered.

Section 1 Listening Portion

Directions: You will listen to short excerpts of three pieces of music as a class. Circle (or write) the best
answer for each question.

Piece #1: Piano Concerto No. 2 Sergei Rachmaninoff

1. What is a Piano Concerto?

a. A concert where a piano is on stage
b. A large ensemble piece, with piano accompaniment
c. A piece for piano soloist, and large ensemble
d. A solo recital for piano
2. This piece was composed in the year 1901. What musical period would that year fall in?
a. Medieval
b. Baroque
c. Romantic
d. Classical
3. Prior to this piece, Rachmaninoff had written another piano concerto. Who was the
composer/conductor that ruined that pieces premiere?
a. Alexander Glazounov
b. Alexander Borodin
c. Leo Tolstoy
d. Fyodor Dostoevsky
4. Many people claim that Rachmaninoff was a Russian nationalist composer. In your own words,
what characteristics of Russian nationalism does this music show? (Nationalism is the use of
musical ideas, folk songs, and harmonies unique to a country, often showing the pride and
history of a nations people.)
Piece #2: The Planets, Movement IV. Jupiter Gustav Holst

1. What instrumentation was The Planets written for?

a. Concert Band
b. String Quartet
c. Marching Band
d. Orchestra
2. The Planets is considered a suite. In this context, what is a suite?
a. A short piece of music, under 10 minutes long
b. A collection of pieces, to be performed together in concert
c. Background music for a party, usually hosted by royalty
d. Accompaniment for an opera production
3. In addition to writing The Planets, Gustav Holst was well known for writing two suites (in Eb
and F) for what kind of ensemble?
a. Saxophone Orchestra
b. Concert Choir
c. Military Band
d. Swing Band

Piece #3: Dies Irae Hymn

1. Dies Irae (trans. Day of Wrath) was written for what kind of mass?
a. Solemn Mass
b. Vigil Mass
c. Requiem Mass (Mass of the Dead)
d. Pontifical Mass
2. What style of music is Dies Irae considered?
a. Ancient a cappella
b. Gregorian Chant
c. Secular Vocal Ensemble
d. Neoclassical
3. The meter of Dies Irae is trochaic. What does that mean?
a. Tuvan throat singing must be used
b. The syllable count between lines alternates between 5 and 7
c. Its written in 4/4 time
d. It alternates between stressed and non-stressed syllables
4. What language is Dies Irae written in?
a. Spanish
b. Old Church Slavonic
c. Greek
d. Latin
5. Would this music be appropriate for a lullaby?
a. Yes
b. No
Section 2 Matching
Directions: Match the following compositional periods with the correct dates.

Compositional Period Names Compositional Period Dates

1. Renaissance _____ a. 500-1400

2. Medieval _____ b. 1400-1600
3. Romantic _____ c. 1600-1750
4. Classical _____ d. 1730-1820
5. Baroque _____ e. 1780-1910

Directions: Match the following characteristics of music with the compositional period it refers to.

Compositional Characteristics Compositional Period

1. Expressive and emotional _____ a. Impressionist

music. Large, diverse groups with b. Romantic
wide dynamic ranges. c. Classical
2. Tonal, partially improvised, _____ d. Baroque
and often using a basso continuo e. Renaissance
accompaniment.
3. Focusing more on the _____
color of sound. Compositional
rules are bent and broken, and
more exotic sounds are explored.
4. Using a lighter, _____
homophonic texture that puts a
clear melody over a chordal
accompaniment.
5. Less constrained by _____
medieval rules, and became a
vessel for personal expression.
Section 3 Multiple Choice
Directions: Choose the best answer from the choices given for the following questions.

1. ____ American composer John Cages piece 4 33 was very unique because
a. The title was misleading, and the piece was much longer
b. It was the first piece to use a prepared piano
c. The piece was based on mathematical ratios
d. The performer sat in silence for the entire piece
2. ____ How many pieces did baroque composer J.S. Bach compose?
a. 277
b. 314
c. 946
d. 1128
3. ____ Which composer is considered both a classical and romantic composer?
a. Hector Berlioz
b. Ludwig Van Beethoven
c. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
d. Richard Wagner
4. ____ What compositional period did Johann Sebastian Bach live in?
a. Baroque
b. Classical
c. Romantic
d. Impressionist
5. ____ What compositional period did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart live in?
a. Baroque
b. Classical
c. Romantic
d. Impressionist
6. ____ What compositional period did Richard Wagner live in?
a. Baroque
b. Classical
c. Romantic
d. Impressionist
7. ____ What compositional period did Maurice Ravel live in?
a. Baroque
b. Classical
c. Romantic
d. Impressionist
8. ____ Was Western music more commonly used for Sacred or Secular purposes during the
Medieval period?
a. Sacred
b. Secular
9. Why is Karlheinz Stockhausens String Quartet likely the most expensive piece of chamber music
to perform?
a. The performers had to use golden threads for their bows
b. The performers had to rent four helicopters, and stream the performance to a concert
hall
c. The performers had to pay Stockhausen a $50,000 royalty to play the piece
d. All parts are handwritten, and Stockhausen charges $1,000 per part
10. What compositional period did the fugue come from?
a. Baroque
b. Classical
c. 21st Century
d. Modern
11. In Baroque music, what does counterpoint refer to?
a. The point in music that you repeat back to
b. The figured bass line that accompanies the music
c. The second half of the concert
d. Two or more independent melody lines going at the same time
12. In Gregorian chant, several modes can be used when writing the music. What is a mode?
a. The mood of the composer
b. The subject of the music
c. The tone and melodic behavior
d. The type of event the music is written for
13. Ancient flutes were made out of what materials?
a. Bamboo chutes
b. Tree Branches
c. Bones
d. Hollow Rocks
14. Why is the Woodwind Quintet a mislabeled term?
a. There are six musicians, instead of five
b. A French Horn is used, and is a brass instrument
c. Flutes are made of metal
d. It isnt a mislabeled term
15. What did Gregorian Chant replace?
a. Old Roman Chant
b. Rhythmic Poetry
c. Monotone Readings
d. Improvised Singing
16. What is considered the oldest, and most widely-used instrument in the world?
a. Flute
b. Bassoon
c. Straight Horn
d. The human voice
Section 4 Short Answer
Directions: Read the following questions carefully, and answer them in your own words. Answers should
not take more than 2-3 sentences.

1. Describe proper concert etiquette from a performer.

2. Describe proper concert etiquette from an audience member.

3. Explain the uses of music in the following settings:

a. Church

b. Movies

c. Stores and Restaurants

d. Video Games

4. What compositional period do we live in?

5. During the 20th century, there were countless styles of composition occurring at the same time.
Why do you think this was?
Section 5 Essay
Directions: Read the following prompt, and use the information to compare and contrast two different
roles within the music world. This will require several paragraphs, including an intro and a conclusion.
Choose your two roles carefully, and justify your answers. Draw from your own knowledge and personal
experiences to complete this answer.

Essay: Circle two musical roles from the following list. Write a short essay comparing and contrasting
these two roles. Things to consider when writing this essay include: who the audience is, what kind of
music is being performed, where the music is performed, and what the purpose of the music is. Be
creative with your answers the more detail, the better. (It may be easier if you begin by creating an
outline, so you know what youre writing about.)

Musical Roles:

1. Pop Singer (Rhianna, Justin Bieber, etc)

2. Commercial Jingle Writer (Writes music for TV and Radio commercials)
3. Film Composer (Writes movie soundtracks)
4. Christmas Carolers
5. Street Performers
6. College Marching Band