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: 03 May 2001 by Franz K
Right, it was Smetana. He was 50 when he noticed a hearing loss and was tortured by a buzzing and tingling in his ears. Within a few months he lost his hearing completely. He was still able to compose afterwards, for example his pain ridden second string quartet before he succumbed to a mental disorder and lost all contact with reality.
He died in a mental-home shortly after.
I am not sure, but I would guess that his suffering was due to tertiary neurosyphilis.
Your turn Todd
Cheers Franz
Posted on: 03 May 2001 by Todd A
What student of Bartok's put the finishing touches on the master's Viola Concerto and last Piano Concerto?
Posted on: 03 May 2001 by Former member
Posted on: 03 May 2001 by Todd A
'Twas Mr. Serly. Your turn, Jonathan.
[This message was edited by Todd Arola on THURSDAY 03 May 2001 at 19:35.]
Posted on: 07 May 2001 by Todd A
Your question. I may have to post a question if you don't . . . . .
Posted on: 08 May 2001 by Former member
Which contemporary composer studied under Nadia Boulanger, Ravi Shankar , and worked with Richard James of Aphex Twin fame?
Posted on: 08 May 2001 by Keith Wu
my first participation to the quiz. Am I right?
Posted on: 08 May 2001 by Former member
Well Keith - you start with a 100% record!
Your question.
Jonathan
Posted on: 08 May 2001 by Keith Wu
French violinist Ginette Neveu said during the interval of another violinist's concert, "His technique and style are quite different from mine, but in his playing I recognise an unquestionable qualtiy of perfection."
Whose concert was it?
Posted on: 09 May 2001 by Keith Wu
The violinist, after his final appearance with Erica Morini in Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, confided to her: "Erica, we are the last! Only with you do I want to play the double concerto."
Posted on: 10 May 2001 by Todd A
Milstein?
Posted on: 10 May 2001 by Keith Wu
Yes Todd, your turn.
Posted on: 11 May 2001 by Todd A
That was a guess. Since I will not be near a PC this weekend, an easy one: what famous composer died during a bombardment of Paris during World War I.
Posted on: 11 May 2001 by Former member
I think he could hear the guns in the distance rather than them actually thumping Paris itself at the time?
Jonathan
Posted on: 11 May 2001 by Todd A
You are correct. Your question, Jonathan.
Posted on: 11 May 2001 by Former member
Chemistry proffessor and composer. Who?
Jonathan
Posted on: 11 May 2001 by Todd A
It was Borodin.
Since I may or may not be able to verify another response, I open the next question to the first person who posts one.
Posted on: 15 May 2001 by Todd A
According to recording industry legend, why was the CD originally designed to hold about 74 minutes of music?
Posted on: 16 May 2001 by Peter Litwack
So it could contain the Beethoven 9th symphony in its entirety on one disc!
Posted on: 16 May 2001 by Todd A
Your turn, Peter.
Posted on: 19 May 2001 by Peter Litwack
What composer published his last symphony at the age of 59, yet lived for another 30 years, failing to publish another symphony? This may be the longest period of artistic silence by a great composer in classical music history!
Posted on: 21 May 2001 by Peter Litwack
Ok, here's a hint. His most famous composition was used to great effect in the movie "Die Hard 2".
Posted on: 22 May 2001 by JamH
Sibelius !!
Posted on: 23 May 2001 by Peter Litwack
You got it! I've always wondered why Sibelius seemed to have lost his creative spark. Maybe the 20th century just got too weird for him - Schoenberg, Stravinski, etc. But he remains one of my absolute favorite 20th century composers, especially the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th symphonies. A true "symphonist"!
You're up, James.
Posted on: 24 May 2001 by JamH
Thanks Peter,
I also like Sibelius. Maybe he got self conscious and worried about producing less good works than he had already produced [e.g. after he was honoured by the Finish goverment].
Anyway .. my question
Honegger and Alkan have both written works [Honnegger for orchestra and Alkan for piano] on the same subject. [By subject I mean topic/theme/item etc. and not subject as in fugue].
James
P.S. Honeger's symphony-2 is great [and it's not one of the answers !!]
