Which term describes a left-hand pattern of broken chords in the order low-high-middle-high?

• A. Alberti bass
• B. Acciaccato
• C. Abafando
• D. Agnus Dei

Answer: (A)

This describes a left-hand accompaniment pattern called Alberti bass. In this pattern the notes of a broken chord are played in a repeating low–high–middle–high order: for a C major chord, that would be C–G–E–G, then repeating. It keeps the left hand active and outlines the harmony while the right hand moves with the melody, a hallmark of Classical-era piano texture. The term comes from Domenico Alberti, who popularized this pattern.

The other terms refer to different ideas: acciaccato denotes a crushed or very short, detached articulation, not a sustained broken-chord pattern; abafando (or abafando) implies muffling or softening the sound, which isn’t a named harmonic pattern; Agnus Dei is a liturgical text title, not a piano technique.