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: 20 November 2000 by Todd A
What composer assisted Mahler in writing the piano reduction of Mahler's 6th Symphony?
(I do apologize for the delay. I was not internet enabled over the weekend.)
Posted on: 20 November 2000 by John Schmidt
Richard Strauss?
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 20 November 2000 by Todd A
Though Strauss and the composer in question did speak the same language.
Posted on: 20 November 2000 by Todd A
Bruckner was dead long before Mahler's 6th was written.
Posted on: 20 November 2000 by Todd A
A hint: the composer in question was one of Alma Mahler's teachers.
Posted on: 20 November 2000 by Paul B
A guess but I believe he was a colleague of Mahler in Vienna.
Paul
Posted on: 21 November 2000 by David Hobbs-Mallyon
How about Alban Berg.
David
Posted on: 21 November 2000 by Todd A
Ross, you got it. Second time's a charm. Over to you.
Posted on: 23 November 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
Jago, "Credo in un Dio crudel"
"La Morte è il Nulla.
è vecchia fola il Ciel."
(After death, there's nothing: the Sky is an old lie)
Igor
Posted on: 23 November 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
There is a (supposed) relationship between Rameau's Zoroastre and Mozart's Zauberfloete. Which one?
Igor
Posted on: 23 November 2000 by John Schmidt
My guess is that both these works are laden with images derived from Freemasonry.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 23 November 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
John: you got it - your turn.
Omer: a nice attampt, I had a good laugh, only marred by the fact that the oe in Zauberfloete should really be an o with a umlaut, but I am too lazy to reach trhe ASCII table to put in the right character...
Igor
Posted on: 23 November 2000 by John Schmidt
Of the three songs most requested by death-row inmates in American prisons before their executions, two are The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah, and Amazing Grace. What's the third song?
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 23 November 2000 by John Schmidt
Neither Stairway to Heaven nor Beethoven's 9th.
Here's a couple of hints:
1. You're right Vuk, I'm stretching it putting this question into a classical forum. But the answer is so ridiculous I couldn't resist.
2. You've probably sung this song yourself on a long high-school bus trip to pass the time.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 23 November 2000 by John Schmidt
That's it, Vuk. You're up.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 24 November 2000 by John Schmidt
In Magic Flute, Tamino has to pass an ordeal by fire in order to prove his worthiness of Pamina, who also must pass the ordeal.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 27 November 2000 by John Schmidt
Omer,
Either Le nozze d'Enea con Lavinia or Arianna.
Ross,
I just zoomed in on this with my trusty search engine after you did the heavy lifting. Next question is properly yours.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 28 November 2000 by John Schmidt
Who said "Too many pieces of music finish too long after the end"?
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 30 November 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
a) and the more probable: Stravinski
b) Webern
Igor
Posted on: 30 November 2000 by John Schmidt
Stravinsky is the anwser.
Next question, please.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 30 November 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
Who connects Bach to Gubaidoulina?
(should be easy)
Igor
Posted on: 01 December 2000 by John Schmidt
Might be if I knew who the hell Gubaidoulina was. Are the rest of you having the same problem I am?
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 01 December 2000 by Todd A
I know who Sofia Gubaidulina is - I have one of her string quartets played by the Arditti quartet - but I have absolutely no clue as to her connection to Bach. She's a living composer, after all.
Posted on: 02 December 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
A violin concerto (sort of) which is available played by Gidon Kremer on a DGG record.
Igor (sorry if that was hard, I thought the thing was better known)
Posted on: 04 December 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
The answer is right, I assume, but not what I had in mind, being more sophisticated than my knowledge of music is. This, I suppose, will answer your question also: the beginning of Offertorium is based on a transcription of the Ricercar a 6 from the Musical Offer, which has been orchestrated by... Anton Webern
Regards
Igor
