Which feature is typical of the 20th-century period?

• A. Vigorous rhythms and spiky accents
• B. Slow tempos and simple diatonic harmony
• C. Limited dynamic range
• D. Homophonic textures only

Answer: (A)

In the 20th century, music often emphasizes rhythmic energy and striking accents to propel the music forward. Composers explored driving, irregular, and sharply accented patterns that create a sense of motion and surprise, as heard in works by Stravinsky, Bartók, and their contemporaries. This focus on vivid rhythm and articulation became a defining stylistic feature of the era, reflecting a break from more restrained, predictable rhythms of earlier periods.

Other choices miss that broad, energetic rhythmic drive. Slow tempos and simple diatonic harmony point to earlier eras or to specific stylistic trends, but they don’t capture the era's overall character. Dynamic range in the 20th century often spans from very quiet to extremely loud and uses a wide palette of timbres, not a limited range. Textures in 20th-century music are also diverse, from dense polyphony to innovations in timbre and atonality, not restricted to homophony.