Exam Questions (1 of 2)

May 2002
1. Match the following with the description:
a. Prelude a lapres-midi dun faune b. Messiah c. polonaise
d. Franz Joseph Haydn e. La Primavera f. West Side Story
g. Symphonie fantastique h. Lied i. George Friedric Handel
j. Symphony no. 5 k. Stephane Mallarme l. French Overture
m. menuet n. The Well-Tempered Clavier o. Harriet Smithson
p. Igor Stravinsky q. George Sand r. Alexina Luoie
s. Eine kleine nachtmusik
The first of four violin concertos published as Le quattro stagione
Its third movement Scherzo opens with a rocket theme.
An Impressionist tone poem completed in 1894
Two volumes, containing 48 Preludes and Fugues
A Serenade fro Strings composed by Mozart in 1787
Its last movement features the famous Dies Irae theme.
Polish processional dance in triple meter
This oratorio premiered in Dublin in 1742
This musical was a collaboration between Bernstein and Sondheim
German art song cultivated in the 19th century
Typically the third movement in the Classical Sonata cycle
The Firebird, The Rite of Spring and Petrushka are three of his most famous ballets
The Esterhazy family employed him for almost 30 years
The German-born composer spent most of his career in London
Her real name was Aurore Dudevant
Messiah opens with this type of orchestral composition
She inspired Berlioz to write the Symphonie fantastique
Her compositions frequently fused European and Asian influences
His poem was the inspiration for Prelude to the afternoon of a faune

2. On a separate sheet of paper, briefly define the following terms and give ONE example chosen from
the titles list:
Terms:
choreography antique cymbals exoticism figured bass
French Overture idee fixe ostinato polytonality
recitativo rocket theme string quartet word painting
Titles:
Carmen Eine kleine nachtmusik, K 525
Quinten, op. 76, no.2 La Primavera
Madama Butterfly Messiah
Quinten, op. 76, no.2 Prelude to the Afternoon of a faune
West Side Story Petrushka
3. Answer the following questions about Madama Butterfly
Name the composer of the music
On whose original play was the opera based?
Name the two librettists and
When did the opera premiere - 1853, 1875, or 1904?

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 Where did the opera premiere - Paris, Rome, or Nagasaki?
What is Madama Butterflys name?
Name the following characters: Madama Butterflys husband: , her friend
and confidant: , her child: , the American consul:
Give TWO reasons why Madama Butterfly is an excellent example of exoticism
Give TWO examples of how this opera exemplifies verismo style
Describe in detail Un bel di vedremo

May 2006
1. Match the following composition title to its
than once.
a. La Primavera from The Four Seasons
c. The Well-Tempered Clavier
e. Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67
g. Prelude to the Afternoon of a faune
i. West Side Story
musical features. Compositions may be used more
b. Messiah
d. Eine kleine nachtmusik K 525
f. Symphonie fantastique
h. Petrushka

last movement employs col legno

contains a scherzo and trio
antique cymbals played
mambo rhythm present
Biblical text drawn from Old and New Testaments
all 12 major and minor keys used
idee fixe in each movement
ballets commissioned by Diaghilev
contains a Menuet and Trio
employs rondo structure
choreographed by Robbins
contains 13 short variations
quotes the Dies Irae
ritornello form employed in the first and third movements
uses polytonality, ostinato figures, polymeter and folk elements
opens with doux et expressif flute theme
begins with French Overture
contains programmatic references to sonnets
demonstrates new system of tuning keyboards
cyclical structure demonstrated in the four movements

2a. Define each of the following terms and give an example composition title for each:
French overture rocket theme
through-composed polytonality
string quartet Lied
glissando hemiola
col legno ophecleide
2b. Name the composer most closely associated with the following and briefly explain the connection:
Stephen Sondheim
Esprit Orchestra
Weimar

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 Esterhazy family
Constance Weber
Leipzig
Potsdam
Goether
Vancouver
Empress Maria Theresa
Alex Pauk
Imperial Chapel, Vienna
Anna Magdalena Wilcke
3a. Fill in the blanks and answer the questions for the composer George Frideric Handel
Dates: (born) (died)
Country of birth:
Identify the significance of each of the following in his musical career (2 sentences each):
Hanover
Italy
London
Royal Academy (of Music)
Name FOUR genres he cultivated and give ONE example of each (hint: name one oratorio,
one orchestral suite, one opera seria, one keyboard work)
3b. Fill in the blanks and answer the questions for the composer Claude Debussy
Dates: (born) (died)
Country of birth:
Identify each of the following influences on his musical career:
A style of painting
A style of poetry
An award form the Paris Conservatoire
Paris Exposition 1889
Identify TWO scale systems, other than major or minor, prominent in his music
Name FOUR genres he cultivated and give ONE example of each (hint: name one opera, one
symphonic poem, one piano work, one vocal work
3c. Fill in the blanks and answer the questions for the composer Igor Stravinsky
Dates: (born) (died)
Country of birth:
Identify the significance of each of the following in his musical career (2 sentences each):
Rimsky-Korsakov
Sergei Diaghilev
Vaslav Nijinsky
Paris
Switzerland
Name FOUR genres he cultivated and give ONE example of each (hint: name one ballet, one
opera, one orchestral work, one choral work)
3d. Fill in the blanks and answer the questions for the composer Ludwig von Beethoven

Dates: (born) (died)

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 Country of birth:
Identify the significance of each of the following in his musical career (2 sentences each):
Heilingenstadt
Napoleon
Comment briefly on EACH of the stylistic periods (two-three sentences, include date/years)
and include an example (composition title) representing each.
Early + Composition Title
Middle + Composition Title
Late + Composition Title
4a. On a separate sheet of paper, Identify the composer and genre of the following works. Name FOUR
specific style features of each chosen work.
Erlkonig Polonaise in A flat major, op. 53
Symphonie fantastique Distant Memories
4b. Name FIVE specific stylistic features associated with the music of the baroque era. Example: basso
continuo.
Name GIVE specific stylistic features associated with music of the Classical era.

August 2004
1. Match the following terms with their BEST description:
a. bel canto b. choreography c. chorus(es)
d. col legno e. cyclical structure f. flutter-tongue
g. Impressionism h. libretto i. Lied
j. mambo k. pentatonic scale l. Petrushka chord
m. polonaise n. recitativo secco o. ripieno
p. symphony q. ternary form r. tierce de Picardie
s. tritone t. whole tone scale

dance in triple meter

text of an opera or oratorio
C D E F] G] A] C
unique sound produced on a flute
Eroica
G up to C]
took prominence in Handels oratorios
scored for voice and piano
continuo accompaniment only
invented by Igor Stravinsky
Latin dance
artistic movement associated with Debussy
an unusual string technique
theme(s) recalled from an earlier movement
the planning of movement in ballet
D E F] A B D
full ensemble in Baroque concerto
tonic triad with a raised third
A-B-A
beautiful singing

2. For each of the following names and terms, indicate if they are more closely associated with the
Baroque of Classical era.

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 Viennese School symphony
scherzo and trio concerto grosso
fugue
George I (King of England)
Sturm und Drang
da capo aria
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
terraced dynamics rocket theme
string quartet French overture
English oratorio homophonic texture
sonata-allegro form basso continuo
Antonio Vivaldi
4b. Discussion the life, career and musical style
polyphonic texture of ONE of: George Frederic Handel OR
harpsichord Igor Stravinsky

3. Score/Music-recognition section. I will provide separately.*

4a. For the following composers, identity two specific style traits of their music (write two sentences
each).

Alexina Louie
Frederic Chopin
Franz Schubert
W.A. Mozart
Hector Berlioz
J.S. Bach

4b. Discussion the life, career and musical style of ONE of: George Frederic Handel OR Igor Stravinsky