Classical Quiz

Posted by: John Schmidt on 17 October 2000

Woodface is onto a good idea with his music quiz. As that thread is getting a bit long, and leaning mostly towards rock and popular music, perhaps we can start a more classical thread. Judging from the threads on Mahler and Schubert, there's no lack of knowledge. As with the other quiz, if you answer correctly, you can pose the next question. Here's a starter:

In the 1950's Emil Gilels was first allowed out of the Soviet Union to tour. This was the first opportunity for many in the West to hear a performer of the "Russian Piano School", and he played to universal acclaim. Gilels was somewhat overwhelmed, and was heard to say "If you think I'm good, wait until you hear __________" To which other Russian pianist was he referring?

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 17 October 2000 by Mike Hanson
I'm not big on Classical trivia, but I was listening to CBC radio a couple of weeks ago. The answer is Sviatoslav Richter.

I've got a terrible cold right now, so my brain is mush. Therefore, my question will be pretty easy. Who sent the the "grey messenger" to Mozart and why? Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 18 October 2000 by John Schmidt
quote:
1) What other work was commissioned by whom, for whom and what special occasion, at the same time - which Mozart conducted when already feeling ill.

Domenico Guardasoni, Impresario (today we'd call him a promoter!) of the Prague National Theatre commissioned the opera La Clemenza di Tito to celebrate the coronation of Leopold II as King of Bohemia.

quote:
2) How many days after his death was the requiem mass performed?

5 days. Mozart died on Dec 5 1791. The requiem mass was first performed at a memorial service for Mozart on Dec 10.


OK, let's move away from Mozart. There is a oft-repeated (but not well-attributed) quote that if certain musicians lived to 80 years, they would have spent 60 of those years tuning their instruments. What is this recalcitrant instrument?

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 18 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Sheeeesh! Picky or what, eh?

Gottfried von Swieten arranged a performance on Jan 2, 1793 for Constanze's (Mozart's widow) benefit. Count von Walsegg received his copy of the Requiem in December 1793, and had it performed at a memorial service for his wife on December 14.

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

[This message was edited by John Schmidt on WEDNESDAY 18 October 2000 at 19:26.]

Posted on: 19 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Getting there. Think renaissance and baroque. (To keep things moving, I'll post the answer by the end of the day if no one gets it)

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 19 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Would you like to phone-a-friend, poll the audience?

Smaller yet than a harpsichord (but bigger than a bread box). Remember also the Renaissance, when this instrument reached its peak in England.

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 19 October 2000 by John Schmidt
It doesn't have a keyboard of any kind. The best-known English composer for it was John Dowland.

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 19 October 2000 by Todd A
It is Sir Thomas Beecham.

Here's one: Name the two winners of the Tchaikovsky prize in 1962.

Posted on: 19 October 2000 by Todd A
Damn it. Damn it all to hell! Vuk, you must have telepathically known that I've seen reference to this before, but for the life of someone else (never me), I can't remember. It's on the tips of my fingers, but . . .
Posted on: 19 October 2000 by John Schmidt
I've never come across this tidbit before, but it sounds like the kind of thing that William Walton might have said, perhaps to Schoenberg (while I'm guessing wildly, it might as well be really wild)?

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 20 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Haven't a clue (I've been saying that a lot lately). But he has a startling resemblance to the late British actor Denholm Elliot.

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 20 October 2000 by Joe Petrik
Abe Vigotta from Barney Miller?

Joe

Posted on: 20 October 2000 by Todd A
Looks like Celibidache.
Posted on: 20 October 2000 by Joe Petrik
Jonathan,

quote:
If right, I assume Jack means something amusing in North America - I get the Beaver bit.

Yup, a jack-off is a wanker. I struggled with "gob" for a while, until I realized it wasn't the same as "saliva".

Joe

Posted on: 20 October 2000 by Todd A
By what name is the composer Leon Dudley better known?
Posted on: 20 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Leon Dudley was better known as Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji.

Continuing along this line, for what accomplishment is this composer cited in the Guinness Book of World Records?

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 20 October 2000 by Todd A
The Opus calvicembalisticum is listed as the longest solo piano work at roughly 4 hours. It's exact length is in question since the few recorded performances vary in length from, I believe, 3.75 hours (Madge's version) to 4.5 hours (Ogdon's version). I can't be exact on the times.
Posted on: 20 October 2000 by Todd A
If I'm right (and I know I am), I defer my question to you John. I won't be around computers too much this weekend and I don't want to hold the thread up.
Posted on: 20 October 2000 by John Schmidt
quote:
If I'm right (and I know I am), I defer my question to you John.

Yes you are, Todd. And thanks for your gracious gesture. Going back to lute music, here's a tougher question to chew on over the weekend.

In the first half of this century, guitarist Andres Segovia and Mexican composer Manuel Ponce tried to pull a practical joke on concert audiences. Ponce composed a piece in the style of Bach, which Segovia performed and passed off as a newly discovered piece by J.S. Bach for lute. Guitar aficionados in those days were a rather narrowly schooled bunch, and fell for the ruse. However, renowned harpsichordist and Bach specialist Wanda Landowska recognized the fake and was not amused. Embarrassed at being caught out, Segovia and Ponce quickly repackaged the work as a Hommage to another baroque lutenist. This then obscure lutenist eventually became recognized as one of the finest lute composers of the baroque era. What was his name?

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 20 October 2000 by Todd A
??
Posted on: 21 October 2000 by John Schmidt
quote:
account of events seems rather different:

Stories of this kind can be pretty apocryphal. This version was told by the New York guitarist Alice Artz guitar at a concert I attended many years ago (in London, Ontario, in fact).

quote:
I think people need to make their quiz questions a little more web-proof

I don't agree. The point is to have a little fun and learn something along the way. Does it really matter whether you find the answer by digging through liner notes or using a search engine

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 21 October 2000 by matthewr
"Born in London of Polish parents, his accent not only wandered around the map, it grew thicker over the years."

Benjamin Frankel

What connects between Alexander Borodin with Adolphe Sax?

Posted on: 21 October 2000 by Phil Barry
"Born in London of Polish parents, his accent not only wandered around the map, it grew thicker over the years."

Stokowski?

Posted on: 22 October 2000 by matthewr
>> I don't even know who Benjamin Frankel is! <<

I must confess neither had I until a friend suggested the answer. Apparently is best known for a violin concerto commenorating the Holocaust and the film music from "The Battle of The Bulge". He was indeed born in London of Polish parents.

My friend also suggested the Borodin/Sax question although I think its rather obscure and I can't imagine anyone would know the answer.

Matthew

Posted on: 23 October 2000 by Phil Barry
Sorry, I missed the part about asking the next question if one get's the answer right.

Who conducted the first electrically recorded Beethoven symphony cycle?

Posted on: 23 October 2000 by Todd A
(I think that's how it's spelled)