Return to Index
Medieval Music Test
Test created by Christopher Brunt, Millsaps College
1. This is the earliest complete Christian hymn. It is traditionally sung during the monastic Office of Matins:
A
Dies irae
B
Victimae paschali laudes
C
Lauda Sion
D
Te Deum
2. This liturgical drama by Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) is probably the earliest example of the form. Its title is:
A
The Play of Herod
B
Ordo Virtutum
C
The Play of Daniel
D
The Raising of Lazarus
3. A style of chant text setting with many notes per syllable of text:
A
melismatic
B
psalmodic
C
neumatic
D
syllabic
4. Which of the following Latin texts would be sung during the monastic Office of Compline?
A
Te Deum
B
Salve Regina
C
Dies irae
D
Pange lingua
5. A non-liturgical piece of prose/poetry interpolated into the medieval mass as a form of running commentary is called a:
A
conductus
B
codex
C
canticle
D
trope
6.The musical highpoint of the medieval mass is the:
A
Gloria
B
Pater noster
C
Alleluia
D
Credo
7. Which one of the following is not one of the French 'formes fixes'?
A
chanson de geste
B
virelai
C
rondeau
D
ballade
8. Which of the following secular composers was a troubadour?
A
Guillaume de Machaut
B
Adam de la Hale
C
Colin Muset
D
Guirat de Bornelh
9. A mode not generally recognized in medieval theory is:
A
Locrian
B
Mixolydian
C
Dorian
D
Lydian
10. The primary bowed stringed instrument in use during the Middle Ages:
A
rebec
B
vielle
C
fiddle
D
bowed lyre
11.This medieval wind instrument was the forerunner of the oboe:
A
crumhorn
B
curtal
C
shawn
D
rackett
12. Which medieval compilation mass listed below is the most complete setting from the time?
A
Sorbonne Mass
B
Barcelona Mass
C
Toulouse Mass
D
Tournai Mass
13. Medieval conducti are always polyphonic and can be found with sacred, or sometimes secular texts.
A
True
B
False
14. Twelfth century florid organum, sometimes called organum purum, was to be found at which of the following musical centers?
A
Santiago di Compostela
B
St. Martial di Limoges
C
Milan Cathedral
D
all of the above
15. Our knowledge of the work of the Notre-Dame School (Leonin/Perotin) is primarily through the work of which scholar:
A
Anonymous IV
B
Nokter Balbulus
C
Guido d'Arezzo
D
St. Thomas Aquinas
16. This type of composition is said to have evolved from the clausulae sections of medieval organum:
A
sequence
B
carol
C
motet
D
planctus
17. This Latin hymn is traditionally sung during the Roman Catholic burial service:
A
Requiem aeternam
B
In paradisum
C
Lux aeterna
D
Dies irae
18. The best-known collection of goliardic poetry is to be found in this medieval manuscript:
A
Codex Montpellier
B
Liber usualis
C
Huelgas Codex
D
Codex Buranus
19. This 20th century composer's Requiem Mass setting is based fully on medieval plainchant:
A
Paul Hindemith
B
Maurice Durufle
C
Benjamin Britten
D
Andrew Lloyd Webber
20. Medieval composer whose motets are early examples of isorhythmic compositional procedure:
A
Jehan des Murs
B
Petrus ce Cruce
C
Philippe de Vitry
D
Franco of Cologne
Your Answers
Q 1:
Q 2:
Q 3:
Q 4:
Q 5:
Q 6:
Q 7:
Q 8:
Q 9:
Q10:
Q 11:
Q 12:
Q 13:
Q 14:
Q 15:
Q 16:
Q 17:
Q 18:
Q 19:
Q 20:
Correct Answers
Q 1:
Q 2:
Q 3:
Q 4:
Q 5:
Q 6:
Q 7:
Q 8:
Q 9:
Q10:
Q 11:
Q 12:
Q 13:
Q 14:
Q 15:
Q 16:
Q 17:
Q 18:
Q 19:
Q 20: