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WorksheetsBaroque Music Test
Total questions: 69
Worksheet time: 35mins
Which description best describes an Opera?
large scale musical theater work, with props, costumes, and multiple pieces of music
short instrumental solo piece, often for piano
folk song with simple melody and lyrics
improvised jazz performance with no singing
Which description best describes an Oratorio?
large scale narrative work, usually religious in nature, with no props or costumes
short instrumental piece, often improvised
opera with elaborate costumes and staging
folk song performed with traditional instruments
Which description best describes a Fugue?
A Musical Puzzle where the melody is repeated over itself in various ways to create harmony.
a song with repeated verses and a chorus
a piece written for solo instrument and orchestra
a musical work with lyrics based on a poem
Which invention was pivotal in sparking the Renaissance?
the printing press
the steam engine
the telephone
the compass
What country was the first to really start the Renaissance? Most famous Renaissance artists come from this place.
Italy
France
Germany
Spain
Which are instruments that were played in the renaissance?
shawm, harp, lute, cornetto, etc.
electric guitar, synthesizer, drum machine
sitar, tabla, tanpura
saxophone, trumpet, trombone
What were instruments used in the Baroque era?
harpsichord, violin, oboe
electric guitar, synthesizer, drum machine
saxophone, piano, trumpet
banjo, harmonica, accordion
Which keyboard instrument was popular in the baroque period and produces sound by causing strings to be plucked?
Harpsichord
Piano
Organ
Clavichord
Which composer was such a pivotal figure in Baroque music that his death marks the end of the baroque period?
JS Bach
Antonio Vivaldi
George Frideric Handel
Henry Purcell
How did most composers earn a living during the Baroque period?
They were “sponsored” by wealthy families or by the church
They sold their music directly to the public
They worked as traveling performers
They taught music in universities
List three characteristics of Baroque period music.
"Fancy" Music, elaborate ornamentation, large contrasts
Minimal instrumentation, simple melodies, lack of ornamentation
Electronic instruments, repetitive rhythms, synthesized sounds
Jazz improvisation, swing rhythms, blue notes
The Renaissance period may be defined as an age of -
The “rebirth” of human creativity
Curiosity and individualism
Exploration and adventure
All of the above
Which is the easiest way to tell that a piece of music is written in the Baroque period?
The use of clarinet.
The use of harpsichord.
The use of a small instrumental ensemble.
Major/Minor tonality was defined during the late Renaissance and early Baroque Period.
True
False
Bach wrote his sacred pieces primarily for the ______ church.
b. Lutheran
a. Catholic
c. Anglican
d. Orthodox
Which keyboard instrument produces sound by forcing air through a reed enclosed in a pipe? It also often features multiple rows of keyboards and even a pedal system.
Harpsichord
Clavichord
Piano
Organ
Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus is pulled from his larger work, The Messiah, which is considered to be an:
Opera
Oratorio
Aria
Concerto
Which of the following facts make Handel unique among Baroque composers?
His music made him wealthy
He wrote more operas than any other composer of the time
He was the only Baroque composer to write for harpsichord
The Baroque period encompassed the following years:
900-1100 AD
1450-1600 AD
1600-1750 AD
1750-1900 AD
Instrumental music became just as important as vocal music in the Baroque period:
True
False
Baroque melodies are often -
Impossible to sing
Short and simple
Elaborate and Ornamental
Easy to sing and remember
The position of composer during the Baroque period was usually:
A high-class servant with a few personal rights
A free agent working off of commissions
A low-class traveling musician
An equal to nobility
Bach was born in _______ and died in _______.
Bach was born in 1685 and died in 1750.
Bach was born in 1750 and died in 1685.
Bach was born in 1600 and died in 1650.
Bach was born in 1700 and died in 1770.
Bach’s family participated in which profession?
Music
Medicine
Law
Architecture
How old was Bach when his parents passed away?
10 years old
15 years old
8 years old
12 years old
Bach’s older brother studied with which musician?
Jahann Pachabel
Antonio Vivaldi
George Frideric Handel
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Bach was a devout Christian.
True
False
Bach first worked for:
the Duke of Saxe- Weimar
the King of England
the Pope
the Emperor of Austria
Bach constantly walked to Lubeck because:
he wanted to listen to the famous organist Dieterich Buxtehude
he was searching for new musical instruments
he was attending a royal ceremony
he was visiting his family
The Weimer Period of Bach’s life happened between ______ and ______.
1708 and 1717.
1685 and 1700.
1723 and 1750.
1693 and 1708.
Bach’s first wife was:
Maria Barbara Bach
Anna Magdalena Bach
Clara Schumann
Fanny Mendelssohn
How many children did they have together?
They had seven children together.
They had three children together.
They had five children together.
They had ten children together.
10. In 1714, Bach was appointed to what position?
Kapellmeister (Music Director) at the court of Prince Leopold in Köthen
Organist at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig
Music director at the Dresden court
Court composer for the King of England
11. A Cantata is:
a Massive vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements
a type of dance performed in operas
a musical instrument used in orchestras
a style of painting from the Renaissance period
12. Bach was thrown in jail because:
he kept requesting to leave his position at the church
he stole money from the church
he refused to compose music
he was caught forging documents
The Kothen Period of Bach’s life happened between _______ and _________.
1717 and 1723
1703 and 1707
1723 and 1750
1685 and 1695
14. Who hired Bach after he got out of jail?
Prince Leopold
The King of Prussia
The Duke of Weimar
The Mayor of Leipzig
15. What kind of Music did Bach write while working for this man?
Mostly Secular Music
Motets
Sacred Music
Gregorian Chant
Bach’s first wife died in which year?
1720
1717
1723
1715
17. He married ______ after his first wife died.
Anna Magdalena Bach
Martha Washington
Abigail Adams
Dolley Madison
18. Bach fathered how many children in total?
10
20
7
15
Who did Bach never meet despite their profession and identical birth year?
George Frideric Handel
Antonio Vivaldi
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Joseph Haydn
The Leipzig period occurred between ____ and _____
1723 and 1750
1685 and 1700
1750 and 1775
1700 and 1723
Where was Bach hired as organist in 1723?
St. Thomas Church, Leipzig
St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
Westminster Abbey, London
Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris
How many cantatas did Bach write between 1723 and 1750?
Over 300 cantatas
About 100 cantatas
Less than 50 cantatas
Around 200 cantatas
Who was John Taylor?
John Taylor was the eye surgeon who operated on Bach.
John Taylor was a famous composer from the Baroque period.
John Taylor was a renowned mathematician in the 18th century.
John Taylor was a celebrated painter in the Renaissance era.
How did Bach die?
Bach died after complications from eye surgery and a stroke.
Bach died in a car accident.
Bach died from pneumonia.
Bach died during a musical performance.
Handel was born in ____ and died in _____
Handel was born in 1685 and died in 1759.
Handel was born in 1700 and died in 1760.
Handel was born in 1670 and died in 1740.
Handel was born in 1690 and died in 1770.
Handel's father supported his decision to become a musician
True
False
Handel’s talent was discovered at what age
10
5
18
23
Handel’s father wanted Handel to study:
Music
Law
Medicine
Art
Handel studied at:
University of Halle
University of Oxford
University of Leipzig
University of Vienna
At what age did Handel give up law and move to Hamburg to play harpsichord for the opera?
18
21
25
16
Handel moved to Italy because:
he wanted to study Italian opera.
he was escaping political unrest.
he was seeking better weather.
he was invited by the Pope.
In 1710, Handel worked for ____ who eventually became King George I.
The Elector of Hanover
The Duke of Wellington
The Earl of Sandwich
The Prince of Wales
What did Handel do to make King George I forgive him for leaving his job in Hanover?
He composed the Water Music for King George I.
He apologized in writing to King George I.
He returned to Hanover and resumed his job.
He performed a private concert for King George I.
What piece is still played today when a monarch is crowned in England?
God Save the Queen
Pomp and Circumstance
Zadok the Priest
Rule, Britannia!
Handel composed which piece in celebration of a New Treaty in France?
Water Music
Music for the Royal Fireworks
Messiah
Israel in Egypt
It is rumored that Handel would threaten to do what to singers who refused to sing his Arias as written?
Throw them out of the window
Refuse to pay them
Replace them with other singers
Cancel the performance
Handel was known by which nickname?
The Red Priest
The English Orpheus
The Great Bear
The Master of Baroque
Why did Handel stop performing temporarily? ________
He suffered a stroke that temporarily paralyzed his right hand
He lost interest in music for a while
He traveled abroad for a long vacation
He was banned from performing by the authorities
Why were Operas banned eventually?
They became too expensive and were written in Italian, which many English audiences didn't understand.
They were considered too short and lacked musical instruments.
They were only performed outdoors and disturbed the public.
They were exclusively for royalty and not accessible to common people.
What did Handel do when Operas were banned? ________
He began writing oratorios (Large scale sacred works in English)
He moved to Italy to compose symphonies
He stopped composing music altogether
He started writing ballets
What is an oratorio?
A large scale work for voices and orchestra, telling a religious story without costumes, scenery, or acting
A short instrumental piece played before an opera
A solo song with piano accompaniment
A type of dance performed in a ballet
What were oratorios based on?
Bible stories or religious themes
Ancient myths and legends
Romantic love stories
Historical battles
Where were oratorios performed?
Concert Hall or Churches, no theatres
Opera Houses
Outdoor Arenas
Private Residences
What was Handel’s most famous Oratorio?
Messiah
Samson
Judas Maccabaeus
Israel in Egypt
What is a Sonata?
A multimovement work typically featuring a soloist and portraying many different themes throughout
A sacred chorale work
A piece written for a consort of instruments with a single theme
A work of renaissance dance music.
Which answer best describes a cantata?
A massive choral and instrumental work written for both sacred and secular occasions
A religious piece for choir.
A piece featuring a single instrumental soloist without vocals
A musical puzzle.
