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: 27 October 2000 by Todd A
Your question.
Posted on: 27 October 2000 by Former member
At the premiere of Richard Strauss'
Salome in 1905 were a number of people who were famous (or later to become famous). Name one of them.
Ross
Posted on: 27 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Hmmmm,
Strauss was second only to Wagner for writing over-the-top marathon epics about the struggles of Aryan heroes. So I'd guess at someone obsessed with these kinds of spectacles: Adolf Hitler.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 27 October 2000 by Former member
quote:
I'd guess at someone obsessed with these kinds of spectacles: Adolf Hitler
Even though the German people are rather strange characters, I think it's unlikely that attending an opera ranks very highly on any 16 year-old's list of things to do.
Vuk.
Posted on: 27 October 2000 by Former member
John,
You are absolutely correct. Hitler was in the audience - he had saved up and made a special trip to hear it.
Also in the audience was Gustav Mahler. Imagine the battle for the armrest if they had been sitting next to each other!
Ross
Posted on: 28 October 2000 by Former member
Your question, John.
Posted on: 28 October 2000 by John Schmidt
a three-parter. By papal edict, this work could only be performed in the Sistine Chapel during Easter celebrations. Copying or distributing the work outside the Vatican was punishable by excommunication.
1) What is the work?
2) Who is the composer?
3) How did the work eventually become available outside the Vatican?
quote:
I think it's unlikely that attending an opera ranks very highly on any 16 year-old's list
of things to do.
This was 1905: no video games, no internet, no TV, no radio, recordings on wax cylinders, but myths of Teutonic struggles pounded into your head by rote from the day you entered school, if not sooner
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 28 October 2000 by Former member
It is Allegri's Miserere.
I don't know about the the third question - according to the web, the answer is -
Apparently Emperor Leopold of Viena heard the work performed in the vatican. He asked the pope for permission to perform it at his own place, but was greatly disappointed by the outcome, which led to suspicions that there was some fraud involved...
Omer.
Posted on: 28 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Correct, Omer.
The 3rd question involved Mozart. Mozart visited the Vatican with his father as a 12-year old boy during the Easter season. He wrote out the Miserere from memory after hearing it once, then returned for a second hearing to correct a few details.
If you'd like more details, check out this link: http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/works/allegri/miserere.html
Next question is yours.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 29 October 2000 by Former member
Nice one about Mozart, that bastard !
My question :
A very short piece was at one occasion performed to live audience consecutively over and over again for more than 24 hours long, with players making turns and replacing each other.
1. Composer ?
2. Piece ?
3. Who arranged this event ?
Omer.
Posted on: 30 October 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
1. Erik Satie
2. Vexations
3. John Cage, if I remember correctly.
If I am correct, my question: what's the story behind John Cage's "Cheap Imitation"?
Igor
[This message was edited by Igor Zamberlan on MONDAY 30 October 2000 at 11:01.]
Posted on: 30 October 2000 by Former member
quote:
If I am correct
Igor you are.
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by John Schmidt
quote:
what's the story behind John Cage's "Cheap Imitation"?
Cage wanted to use an arrangement for two pianos of Erik Satie's Socratesto accompany some choreography, but was refused permission. So he made a "cheap imitation".
If I'm right, here's the next question:
About a week after the premiere of this piece, the composer died as a result of drinking unboiled water during a cholera epidemic. The melancholic character of the work led to wide-spread (and incorrect) speculation that the death was a suicide.
Name the composer and the piece.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by Former member
Walter ... why are you signing yourself as Vuk??
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by Former member
Jonathan.
I think part of your posting is missing.
BTW--just had a hell of struggle to post this. Something up with the server/software yet again?
Vuk.
[This message was edited by Vuk Vuksanovic on TUESDAY 31 October 2000 at 15:54.]
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by Former member
About 30 minutes ago there was a message above mine from Walter Braun (who introduced himself yesterday on the Flatness of earth ... jazz quiz topic) giving the answer ... he said, I think Symphony Pathetique Tchcosky (but probably spelt correctly) ... and he seemed to have signed it "Vuk" - in which case my post was complete .. as I was wondering why Walter used your name - perhaps we have a Jekyll and Hyde character who changed mid-posting ???
I then went back to the Jazz Quiz to check the postings and he is listed as having 3 but only one was showing.
Hmmmm
"But that's not logical captain"
Walter - are you there ??
Jonathan
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by Former member
My browser just crashed mysteriously as I was posting a reply (do I have a stalker?). Can't be bothered to type it all again, so here's the short version: Tchaikovsky 6th seems the right answer so I'll steal it, how about this photo for the next one:
Who is conducting?
Vuk.
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by Todd A
Furtwangler?
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by Former member
That was fast!!! Go ahead Todd.
BTW--could someone confirm the Tchaikovsky? I thought he gulped up the deadly water when tossing himself into the river (Volga?) in a half-hearted suicide attempt that he changed his mind about. I also seem to remember that this was revealed to be a myth.
Vuk.
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by Todd A
An easy one: who was Suk's father-in-law? (I can't think of any really good ones right now.)
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Antonin Dvorak.
What composer actually made his living as a professor or chemistry?
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by Phil Barry
Borodin? (Professor of Chemistry)
Posted on: 31 October 2000 by John Schmidt
Next question, Phil.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 01 November 2000 by Phil Barry
ACK! um..let's see...
What piece of music was composed in part to permit the composer and the soloist to reconcile, and who was the soloist?
Posted on: 01 November 2000 by Todd A
Bartok's 1st Violin Sonata is the work and Stephanie Geyer the soloist? (A wild-ass guess.)
