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: 16 November 2000 by Paul B
Right you are, John. I was thinking of Florestan as well.
Paul
Posted on: 16 November 2000 by John Schmidt
Moving away from Opera:
Ravel's orchestration of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" is the only one known to modern audiences. Who else produced an orchestration of this work, but later forbade its performance in deference to Ravel's superior treatment?
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
[This message was edited by John Schmidt on FRIDAY 17 November 2000 at 13:05.]
Posted on: 16 November 2000 by Todd A
Lawrence Leonard?
Posted on: 16 November 2000 by Former member
Surely T'was this man - and didn't he do a few others ??
Ahh - not certain, I'll wait ...
Posted on: 17 November 2000 by John Schmidt
quote:
Who else produced an orchestration of this work, but later forbade its performance in deference to Ravel's superior treatment?
Just to keep things moving, the answer is Sir Henry Wood. Here is something easier, still staying with Pictures at an Exhibition:
1. What event prompted Mussorgsky to write the original solo piano version?
2. Who asked Ravel to orchestrate it?
Bonus: (not needed to pose the next question) for what other unlikely instrument did Kazuhito Yamashita arrange this piece?
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 17 November 2000 by Former member
#1 was the death of an arist freind of his. Can't remember who.
Don't know the answer to #2 - but it was about 20 years later I think.
I'm was sure R-K did an orchestration (although it might not be the one "rejected" as described.) Am I going mad ? Didn't he also do one for "night on a bare/bald mountain" as well?
Jonathan
Posted on: 17 November 2000 by Pete, Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know
Hi,
The paintings where by Victor Hartmann, thats as much as I can remember.
pete
Posted on: 17 November 2000 by Phil Barry
If I'm right, someone else will have to ask the next question.
Serge Koussevitsky? (i.e. requested Ravel to orchestrate Pictures)
Phil
Thanks for this thread - it's agood education.
Posted on: 17 November 2000 by Former member
quote:
1. What event prompted Mussorgsky to write the original solo piano version?
A commemorative exhibition of pictures by Mussorgsky's friend Victor Hartmann, who had recently died. (This is a clear illustration of the principle that artists' work does not always become more valuable after they die. Victor Hartmann appears to have been a very mediocre artist - Mick Parry would love his work.)
quote:
2. Who asked Ravel to orchestrate it?
Serge Koussevitzky.
New question: who won the 1914 Anton Rubinstein Prize for piano. Some more information: Unlike the other competitors who all played established classics, this pianist insisted on playing his own first piano concerto - about which a reviewer had previously said "this harsh, coarse and primitive cacophony hardly deserves to be called music at all". The St Petersburg Gazette described this composer as completely insane and in urgent need of a straitjacket. At the end of the competition, Alexander Glazunov did not even want to announce the winner, and read the jury's decision in a mumble.
With all that information, the answer should be easy.
Ross
Posted on: 17 November 2000 by Former member
Phil, we were obviously posting our replies at the same time.
Posted on: 17 November 2000 by Todd A
Prokofiev.
Since I can't think of a good question, I'll defer my question back to you Ross.
Posted on: 17 November 2000 by Former member
Come on, Todd, you're not getting off that easily. You know the rules. Question, please.
Ross
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 Former member
I may be way off here, could it be Bruckner ???
Posted on: 20 November 2000 by Todd A
Bruckner was dead long before Mahler's 6th was written.
Posted on: 20 November 2000 by Former member
Schoenberg?
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 Former member
Zemlinsky?
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: 21 November 2000 by Former member
Verdi composed his Requiem partly as a penance for creating which character in which of his operas (and, for optional credit, which particular aria by that character)?
Ross
Posted on: 21 November 2000 by Former member
Giorgio Germont and the aria in which he asks Violetta to stay away from Alfredo?
BTW--I have a feeling that's wrong and the real answer has to do with Don Carlo.
Vuk.
