Medieval and Renaissance Music quiz

More questions about Medieval and Renaissance Music

These visible examples show the question style. LearnClash turns the full topic into ranked duels and spaced repetition.

1. 1 Easy

   What language do the note names re, mi and fa come from?

   Answer: Latin

   Why: Each of the first six phrases of the Latin hymn Ut queant laxis starts one note higher, so their first syllables name a rising scale.

2. 2 Medium

   Who was the Nuremberg shoemaker behind over 4,000 Meistersinger songs?

   Answer: Hans Sachs

   Why: Wagner made Sachs a leading character of his 1868 opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

3. 3 Hard

   What sign marked 'perfect' triple time in medieval notation?

   Answer: A full circle

   Why: Today's C sign for 4/4 time comes from that medieval half circle, once the mark of duple time.

4. 4 Easy

   Who ruled England when Greensleeves first appeared, in 1580?

   Answer: Elizabeth I

   Why: Henry VIII is an unlikely author: its Italian style of composition reached England only after he died in 1547.

5. 5 Medium

   What modern instrument grew out of the shawm?

   Answer: Oboe

   Why: From about 1670 the new French hautbois, the early oboe, began replacing the shawm in bands and opera.

6. 6 Hard

   Which pope tried to curb Ars Nova church music?

   Answer: John XXII

   Why: In a decree, John XXII attacked singers who chopped up the chant with short notes and broke its melodies with hockets.