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: 18 December 2000 by John Schmidt
Did Mahler say this about Hugo Wolf?
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"90% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 18 December 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
try some 20 or 30 years earlier...
Igor
Posted on: 18 December 2000 by John Schmidt
.....puts us in the middle (I think) of the great Wagnerian-Brahmsian Schism. So how about:
1. Liszt describing Wagner
2. Schumann describing Brahms.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"90% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 19 December 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
Well, yes about the Brahmsian/Wagnerian schism. Who said the sentence is one of the composers at at the center of the schism. The owner of the wastebasket is an outsider.
Igor
Posted on: 19 December 2000 by John Schmidt
1. Wagner talking about Bruckner (except that Bruckner was, if unwillingly, pretty much in centre of the Brahms-Wagner controversy).
2. Brahms talking about Schubert.
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"90% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 19 December 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
Close, but still no cigar...
He's a contemporary (somewhat younger IIRC) of his, but not a German.
Igor
Posted on: 19 December 2000 by Todd A
Brahms speaking about Dvorak.
Posted on: 20 December 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
See
this link among others.
So Todd: your turn...
Igor
[This message was edited by Igor Zamberlan on WEDNESDAY 20 December 2000 at 08:49.]
Posted on: 20 December 2000 by Todd A
my brain is toast this close to the holidays, so an easy one, I think: what was Ravel's Bolero initially named?
Posted on: 20 December 2000 by Todd A
I was unaware of its being based on a prior work. I am interested in the name Bolero went by before it became known as Bolero.
Posted on: 20 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
Could it be "Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera"?
Posted on: 20 December 2000 by Todd A
Hint: the original title is one word, as well.
Posted on: 20 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
Would it be simply "Ballet"?
Or "Crescendo"?
Posted on: 21 December 2000 by Todd A
Nope. But seeing as how I'm getting ready to take leave for the holiday, I guess I'll share the answer. Fandango.
I nominate you, Peter, to ask the next question.
Posted on: 21 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
Let's see how to phrase this. Beethoven originally had a different theme in mind for the last movement of the 9th symphony. He set this thematic material aside and wrote the "Ode to Joy" instead. What composition later used this theme?
Posted on: 21 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
Vuk-
I don't like the Choral Fantasy either, but there are quite a few other Beethoven works that I could live without. But you're not very close. This work was a much later work than the Choral Fantasy.
Posted on: 27 December 2000 by Todd A
Missa Solemnis? (Hey, worth a shot)
Posted on: 27 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
Todd-
You're much closer than Vuk - at least you're in the right time frame. The Missa Solemnis was finished in 1822, and bears Opus #123. The Ninth Symphony was finished in 1824 and is Opus #125 (BTW the Choral Fantasia, Op.80, is from 1808). Hint: the work in question was finished later than Ninth symphony. That should narrow it down! 
Posted on: 27 December 2000 by Todd A
String Quartet Op 135?
Posted on: 27 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
You're on the right track and very close
Posted on: 28 December 2000 by Todd A
?
Posted on: 28 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
So, the Grosse Fugue, Op. 133, was not based on the original thematic material for the last movement of the Ninth Symphony. But you could not be any closer, timewise. I need the movement of the work, as well as its opus #. Some of these late works had as many as 7 movements!
Posted on: 28 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
Said to be Beethoven's own favorite of his string quartets. However, it's not the work that used the thematic material originally slated for the Ninth Symphony. Guess again.
Posted on: 28 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
You're very close again. Try another piece.
Posted on: 28 December 2000 by Peter Litwack
Giuseppe-You got it! Good work. BTW, it's a great quartet, probably my favorite Beethoven chamber work, along with Opus 130. Do you have a favorite recordings of them?
You're up next.
[This message was edited by Peter Litwack on FRIDAY 29 December 2000 at 08:00.]
