AoS 4 Text Setting Quiz

What is a key reason composers might choose syllabic text setting over melismatic?

• It makes the melody more expressive

• It allows greater rhythmic freedom

• It makes the words clearer to the listener

• It highlights emotional intensity

In art songs, how do composers often use word painting?

• By choosing instruments to double the vocal part

• By keeping dynamics and texture consistent

• By repeating the same melodic motif for all lines

• By matching musical features to the literal meaning of the words

Which of the following is an example of melismatic text setting?

• Singing one note per syllable

• Using fast repeated notes for dramatic words

• Speaking the lyrics in rhythm

• Extending a single syllable across several notes

In musical theatre, what is often a primary goal of text setting?

• To create complex harmonic textures

• To enhance narrative clarity and character expression

• To imitate instrumental styles

• To showcase vocal virtuosity above all else

Which texture is most commonly used to support clear text setting in art song?

• Polyphonic

• Fugal

• Homophonic

• Canonic

Why might a composer choose to use melisma on the word "eternity"?

• To imitate instrumental phrasing

• To reflect the extended nature of the word’s meaning

• To emphasise speed

• To hide the meaning of the text

What does the term "recitative" usually indicate in vocal music?

• A structured choral section with repeated refrains

• A song with heavy use of melisma

• A style where words are set rhythmically to follow natural speech patterns

• A non-vocal orchestral interlude

How might a composer highlight a word like "falling" using word painting?

• By using ascending intervals

• By setting the word on a descending melodic line

• By repeating the word rapidly

• By adding a trill on the note

In choral music, which texture is most effective for ensuring the text is clearly understood by the audience?

• Polyphonic, with interweaving melodic lines

• Canon, where voices imitate each other at fixed intervals

• Homophonic, with all voices moving together rhythmically

• Fugal, with layered subject entries

Which of the following best describes syllabic word setting?

• Each word assigned its own melodic theme

• Use of harmony to shadow each syllable

• A syllable stretched across several notes

• A single note used for each syllable of text