Music Composition and Styles Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is a verse-refrain structure in music?

An introductory section preceding the main body of the song (correct)

A phrase with variations

A contrasting passage

A repeated section with AABA structure (correct)

What does the term 'verse' refer to in music?

A group of lines of poetic text, often rhyming, that usually precede the main body of the song.

What is a bridge in a song structure?

A passage consisting of new, contrasting material.

What is a 'tag' in music?

A repeated phrase with possible alterations. Signup and view all the answers

What are torch songs?

Songs that describe the heartbreak of separation or a romance gone sour. Signup and view all the answers

What is crooning?

An intimate, gentle style of singing facilitated by the introduction of the microphone. Signup and view all the answers

What is a crooner?

A singer who mastered the electric microphone after its introduction in 1925. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'minor key' refer to?

One of the two scale systems central to Western music with a specific interval arrangement. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'major key' refer to?

One of the two scale systems central to Western music with a different interval arrangement. Signup and view all the answers

What are standards in music?

Songs that have remained in active circulation for more than seven decades. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was not an influential Tin Pan Alley composer?

John Philip Sousa. Signup and view all the answers

Who was born in Temun, Russia, in 1888 and was a Tin Pan Alley composer?

Irving Berlin. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'B' section of a song in AABA form also called?

Bridge. Signup and view all the answers

Tin Pan Alley songs dealt directly with the troubling issues of the 1920s and 1930s.

False Signup and view all the answers

Which singing style emerged soon after the invention of the electronic microphone?

Crooning. Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about Al Jolson's 1921 recording of 'April Showers'?

He was accompanied by an orchestra that played an elaborate and decorative accompaniment. Signup and view all the answers

In which city was Tin Pan Alley located?

New York. Signup and view all the answers

What is true of Bing Crosby's recording of 'How Deep Is the Ocean'?

Crosby constantly varies his dynamics within individual phrases. Signup and view all the answers

Which crooner released the hit 'My Blue Heaven' in 1927?

Gene Austin. Signup and view all the answers

Al Jolson billed himself as 'The World's Greatest Entertainer'.

False Signup and view all the answers

Which 1927 film featured Al Jolson and demonstrated the possibilities of combining film with sound?

The Jazz Singer. Signup and view all the answers

Who composed the music to 'I Got Rhythm'?

George Gershwin. Signup and view all the answers

Which opera composed by George Gershwin in 1935 represents his synthesis of various musical influences?

Porgy and Bess. Signup and view all the answers

Which 1927 musical featured music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II?

Show Boat. Signup and view all the answers

Which Tin Pan Alley composer was born Israel, or Isadore, Baline in 1888?

Irving Berlin. Signup and view all the answers

What are arrangers responsible for in music?

Creating a musical environment that matches a singer's vocal strengths. Signup and view all the answers

What are blue notes in music?

Bent or flattened tones that reflect African American melodic characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the blues?

An African American music tradition influencing mainstream popular music. Signup and view all the answers

What is a riff?

A musical pattern that is repeated to create rhythmic momentum. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Music Composition Elements

Verse-refrain: Structure with an introductory verse leading to the main body (refrain/chorus) following an AABA format.
Verse: A poetic text group with rhymes and recurrent patterns, serving as an introduction in verse-refrain songs.
Bridge: Contrasting passage in a song, providing a 'release' from the preceding sections.
Tag: Repeated phrase, often altered, found in AABA structures, specifically in the third A line.

Music Styles and Genres

Torch songs: Emotional pieces expressing heartbreak from separation or failed romances.
Crooning: Gentle singing style made possible by the microphone, with Bing Crosby as a pioneering figure.
Crooner: A singer who effectively used the electric microphone post-1925.

Musical Keys

Minor key: One of the two primary scales in Western music, characterized by a specific sequence of intervals; prevalent in blues music.
Major key: The second primary scale in Western music with its own interval arrangement.

Music Standards

Standard: Songs that have retained popularity and active performance for over seventy years.

Notable Figures in Tin Pan Alley

Irving Berlin: Influential composer from Temun, Russia, who emigrated to the U.S. due to anti-Jewish persecution.
John Philip Sousa: Identified as not being an influential Tin Pan Alley composer.
Al Jolson: Known as "The World's Greatest Entertainer" and recognized for his 1921 recording of "April Showers" featuring elaborate orchestral accompaniment.

Musical Contributions and Influence

Bing Crosby: Known for dynamically varied phrase deliveries, exemplified in his recording of "How Deep Is the Ocean."
Gene Austin: Released the hit "My Blue Heaven" in 1927.
George Gershwin: Composer of "I Got Rhythm," and noted for the opera "Porgy and Bess," merging various musical styles.
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II: Creators of "Show Boat," a groundbreaking musical in 1927 emphasizing seriousness in content.

Tin Pan Alley Context

Location: New York City, the hub for many influential songwriters and composers of the era.
Cultural Reflection: Tin Pan Alley songs typically did not address serious societal issues of the 1920s and 1930s, such as racism or economic struggle.

Musical Techniques and Elements

Arrangers: Individuals tasked with creating suitable musical settings for singers by matching vocal strengths with song parameters.
Blue notes: Unique tones reflecting African American musical traits, noted for their deviation from traditional scales.
Blues: A significant genre rooted in African American tradition, influencing mainstream music since the 1920s.
Riff: Repetitive musical pattern used to build rhythm, characteristic of much African American music.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the elements of music composition, including verse-refrain structures and various musical styles like torch songs and crooning. This quiz covers key concepts in musical keys and the techniques of famous singers.