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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: 25 November 2000 by Former member
Of course. How could I forget the Tarnhelm, perhaps Wagner's most ridiculous creation.

Gunther (or a Tarnhelmed Siegfried disguised as Gunther) returns to the rock to claim Brunnhilde (who is naturally less than happy about the prospect).

For my next question, I will ask something very easy which should be answered within five minutes.

Which musical work was sub-titled (depending on the translation) as "a Soviet artist's constructive response to justified criticism"? So that the question isn't too easy, in addition to identifying the "constructive response", also identify the work which had been the subject of the "justified criticism".

Ross

Posted on: 25 November 2000 by Former member
Shostakovich composed his pre-WWII 5th Symphony after the criticism on his "Lady Macbeth of Mtensk" .

Let me think of a question.

[This message was edited by Omer Shibolet on SATURDAY 25 November 2000 at 20:54.]

Posted on: 26 November 2000 by Former member
I really loved this piece of music, and I thoght it was my only composition worthy of leaving to posterity. It was so popular, that in my home town every house with a harpsichord had the score.

Too bad you only have little fragments of it left, even though earlier works of mine are available in whole.

Who am I ?
What is this missing composition ?

Posted on: 27 November 2000 by Former member
Omer, you might have to give us some more clues.

Ross

Posted on: 27 November 2000 by Former member
quote:

Omer, you might have to give us some more clues.


Who's Omer ??? right, reading it again I realised it's a little bit "out of nowhere" for you 21th century ignorants.

OK, many musicologists would also say that I wrote the first "worthy" and important opera, and that I was the one to show the power of this genre. May I also add that I also consider myself to be the most important coposer of my time.

Me.

(Damn I feel silly writing this in first person, let's get it over with !!!)

[This message was edited by Omer Shibolet on MONDAY 27 November 2000 at 15:35.]

Posted on: 27 November 2000 by Former member
Monteverdi?
Posted on: 27 November 2000 by Former member
Yes, Monteverdi.

And the lost opera is ?

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: 27 November 2000 by Former member
Yes, it's "Lamente D'Arianna". The remaining piece from this opera is overwhelming.

Wake up Ross !

Posted on: 27 November 2000 by Former member
Okay, now I'm awake.

My answer was inspired guesswork. John did the hardwork in figuring out which opera it was - he can have the question (and I don't think I have any questions left!).

Ross

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: 29 November 2000 by Former member
Most recently, I think it was said by Mike Hanson, but I don't think that's who you had in mind.

John, you're going to have to help us out with a clue.

Ross

Posted on: 30 November 2000 by Former member
quote:

Who said "Too many pieces of music finish too long after the end"?

Don't know, but I think I know to whom he said it - Peter Gabriel in the early seventies ?

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: 01 December 2000 by Former member
My guess is something to do with Shostakovich, but I don't know why.

Ross

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: 02 December 2000 by Former member
Igor,

Your clue gave the game away (but it was a hard question). I quote this from the Gramophone review of the recording: "her Offertorium is a brilliantly clever game in which the Thema Regium from Bach's Musical Offering is first dematerialized (by removing its outermost notes two by two until only the central E remains) and then remade (by the reverse process, this time so that the theme emerges backwards)".

This sounds intriguing, so I will have to go out today and try to find it.

Next question, in the same vein: what is Webern's connection with Bach?

Ross

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

Posted on: 04 December 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
double post - thanks to Infopop rocket science.

Igor

[This message was edited by Igor Zamberlan on MONDAY 04 December 2000 at 10:13.]

Posted on: 04 December 2000 by Former member
Correct, Igor.

Your question again.

Ross

Posted on: 05 December 2000 by Igor Zamberlan
A tricky question: according to what he said in various interviews, who was Sviatoslav Richter's favorite composer?

Igor