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: 13 April 2001 by Franz K
Mahlers The Song of the earth ?
Franz
Posted on: 16 April 2001 by John Schmidt
Correct, Franz. Your question.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"90% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 16 April 2001 by Franz K
Schubert uses an uncommon instrumetal setup in his trout quintett. Here is the question: What instruments is it written for and who else composed a quintett for identical instuments before him?
Franz
[This message was edited by Franz K on MONDAY 16 April 2001 at 15:57.]
Posted on: 16 April 2001 by Former member
I think there's a double bass in this quintet.
I also think Boccherini wrote a Piano quintet for a double bass included ?
Posted on: 18 April 2001 by Franz K
almost Omer
Yes there os a double bass in schuberts trout quintett.
As far I know Boccherini wrote a string quintett for two violins a viola and two celli with the identical instrumentation schubert used in his famous c major string quintett. I am not aware of that Boccherini also wrote a pinaoquintett with a doulbe bass.
The composer I was asking for was also famous as a violin virtuoso similar to paganini and he also wrote a Faust opera.
Franz
Posted on: 18 April 2001 by Former member
I know he wrote a Faust opera (although I haven't actually heard it) - and he played the violin - but I'm not sure if he ranked as a virtuoso.
I've only heard some of his chamber stuff stuck on the end of other LPs/CDs. If it is he, worth a listen?
Jonathan
Posted on: 18 April 2001 by Franz K
yes, its Luis Spohr
Your turn Jonathan,
Franz
Posted on: 19 April 2001 by Former member
Didn't actually hold out much hope my answer would be right - so I'm unprepared, so two easy ones to try and pose a challenge..
1) What is a Neume, and who is generally credited with it's replacement- and by what?
2) What is now regarded as "the first Opera" - name and who by (year buys you a big kiss) ?
Sorry - slightly lame questions.
Jonathan
Posted on: 19 April 2001 by Former member
The first opera is Monteverdi's Orpheus ? I really hate to miss the kiss, though.
A Neume preceded the written note.
Omer
Posted on: 19 April 2001 by Former member
Omer
I'm thinking of an Opera 10 years before Orfeo (Monteverdi) - first performed in Florence.
Spot on for the Neume - a notation for plain chant. Any idea on the replacement genesis?
I think either one gets the next go..
Jonathan
(kiss still up for grabs)
Posted on: 20 April 2001 by Former member
OK, Jonathan, just for the kiss I looked it up - I had the year already - so it's Jacopo Peri's Dafne in 1597, never heard it, though.
Thinking of a question and handing my cheek, Omer.
Posted on: 23 April 2001 by Former member
"I have already composed suitable music for that catastrophe'"
Who said it, what's the catastrophe', and what is (presumably) the suitable music ?
Posted on: 23 April 2001 by Former member
>>>>> SMACK <<<<<< Cheers
Jonathan
(PS Guido of Arezzo (Benedictine) believed to have intoduced a system of musical notation based on the knuckles of his hand.. very close to the written one with have now - only know about Defne because of visit to Florence / background reading - I've never heard it or know if the score survives..)
Posted on: 23 April 2001 by Former member
Jonathan,
quote:
>>>>> SMACK <<<<<<
NICE !
Just, maybe, a tad tall for me - hey, that was my eye !
Anyhow, your place or mine ?
Posted on: 25 April 2001 by John Schmidt
Look's like we need a hint here, Omer.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"90% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 25 April 2001 by Former member
OK,
the composer in question was previously disilusioned with the person whose death in 1821 is the actual catastrophe'.
Posted on: 25 April 2001 by Peter Litwack
I know Napoleon died in 1821, and Beethoven was very enamoured of him until he had himself declared Emperor. So was it the Eroica Symphony? (Funeral March-2nd mvt.)
Posted on: 26 April 2001 by Former member
Right Peter, it's LVB talking about NB.
Posted on: 26 April 2001 by Peter Litwack
This great, underappreciated Russian pianist (he was actually born in Odessa-same as my grandfather) played his last concert in Carnegie Hall in 1951. While performing the Grieg Concerto, with Ormandy conducting, he collapsed at the keyboard of a fatal cerebral hemorrhage. Name this great pianist.
BTW, I have a recording of him playing the Liszt b minor, and it's FANTASTIC!!!
Posted on: 27 April 2001 by Franz K
The pianist was Simon Berere.
(OK, I admit I cheated, I have looked up google with "russian pianist-death 1951"- and he was listed).
So far I have not heard of him-it was weigh before my time). Are there more recordings available with him?
Cheers
Franz
Posted on: 27 April 2001 by Former member
Peter,
quote:
he was actually born in Odessa-same as my grandfather
And as my grandfather !
Cheers, Omer.
Posted on: 27 April 2001 by Peter Litwack
Franz K-You're a good googler. That's the right answer. Why don't you also use google to look up "Simon Barere-recordings"? I don't know if the Remington recording (made by Barere's son) of the Liszt b minor is available on CD. I have an old vinyl copy, but there is other stuff available. A Chopin f minor fantasie and f minor ballade, a Liszt Petrarch Sonata no.104, a Beethoven Opus 110, and some more Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Chopin. He was a tremendous artist, hardly known any more (except by us old guys).
Posted on: 01 May 2001 by John Schmidt
We need a question here. Franz, I think you have the honours
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"90% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 03 May 2001 by Franz K
I have been out of touch with my computer for some days.
Here is my question:
Who was the composer who similarly to LvB became completely deaf at the height of his composing power?
Franz
Posted on: 03 May 2001 by Todd A
Smetana?
