Music Theory & Sight-Reading Flashcards

Which rhythmic device places a regular accent on normally weak beats or between beats?

Answer: Syncopation

Syncopation shifts the accent away from the expected strong beat, creating rhythmic tension.

In species counterpoint, which species allows note-against-note writing?

Answer: First species

First species counterpoint places one note in the added voice against each note of the cantus firmus.

What does the Roman numeral 'viio7' represent in a minor key?

Answer: A fully diminished seventh chord on the leading tone

In minor, viio7 is a fully diminished seventh chord built on the raised leading tone.

A passage marked 'alla breve' (cut time) is typically conducted in how many beats per measure?

Answer: 2

Cut time (₵) indicates 2/2 meter, felt as two half-note beats per measure.

Which scale degree is called the 'subtonic' in a natural minor scale?

Answer: 7th (lowered leading tone)

The subtonic is the lowered seventh scale degree found in natural minor, a whole step below the tonic.

When sight-reading a passage with many ledger lines on the organ, what is the most efficient reading strategy?

Answer: Identify nearby landmark notes and count from them

Recognizing landmark pitches such as middle C and the C two ledger lines above the staff enables fast counting.

What is a 'suspension' in tonal voice leading?

Answer: A tone held over from the previous chord that creates a dissonance before resolving downward

A suspension is prepared on a consonance, held into the next chord as a dissonance, and resolved stepwise downward.