Dive into the fascinating world of classical music and test your knowledge on everything from Bach to Beethoven, famous compositions to musical terms, and the incredible stories behind history's greatest composers!
1. Which 12th-century German religious figure is known both for her musical compositions and canonization?
Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard of Bingen was a Benedictine abbess who composed liturgical songs and was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2012.
2. Which Renaissance prince and composer is infamous for murdering his wife and her lover without facing legal consequences?
Carlo Gesualdo
Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, killed his first wife Maria d'Avalos and her lover in 1590 but avoided prosecution due to his noble status.
3. Which French Baroque composer met his demise due to gangrene after accidentally striking his foot with his conducting staff?
Jean-Baptiste Lully
Lully died in 1687 from gangrene that developed after he struck his foot with his conducting staff during a performance of Te Deum.
4. Which famous Baroque composer fathered a total of twenty children across two marriages?
Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach had seven children with his first wife (his second cousin) Maria Barbara and thirteen with his second wife Anna Magdalena.
5. At which Venetian orphanage did a famous composer write numerous concertos for an all-female orchestra?
Ospedale della Pietà
Vivaldi composed many works for the all-female orchestra at the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children in Venice.
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Learn more!6. Which composer's famous 'Devil's Trill Sonata' was allegedly inspired by a dream of Satan playing the violin?
Giuseppe Tartini
Tartini claimed his most famous work was an attempt to recreate a violin sonata he heard the devil play in a dream.
7. Which renowned composer suffered the indignity of being literally kicked out of his position by Count Arco, an archbishop's steward?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart was dismissed from his position in Salzburg in 1781 with a kick from Count Arco, representing Archbishop Colloredo.
8. Which 18th-century composer, known as the 'Black Mozart,' was also celebrated as one of Europe's finest fencers?
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Joseph Bologne was both a renowned composer and an accomplished swordsman who was considered one of the best fencers in Europe.
9. Which Classical period composer's remains were desecrated when his skull was stolen from his grave for phrenological study?
Joseph Haydn
Haydn's skull was stolen in 1809 by phrenologists and wasn't reunited with his other remains until 1954.
10. Which legendary composer had to be physically turned around to see the audience's standing ovation at his Ninth Symphony premiere due to his deafness?
Ludwig van Beethoven
At the 1824 premiere of his Ninth Symphony, the completely deaf Beethoven had to be turned around to see the audience's enthusiastic response.
11. Which famous musical couple had to fight in court for the right to marry against her father's wishes?
Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck
Robert Schumann had to sue Clara's father Friedrich Wieck in court to gain permission to marry Clara.
12. Which virtuoso violinist's extraordinary abilities led to widespread rumors of a Faustian bargain?
Niccolò Paganini
Paganini's unprecedented violin virtuosity was so remarkable that many believed he had sold his soul to the devil.
13. Which Romantic composer maintained a lifelong, unrequited love for his mentor's wife?
Johannes Brahms
Brahms developed deep feelings for Clara Schumann, wife of Robert Schumann, but their relationship remained platonic throughout their lives.
14. Which Russian composer's death was caused by drinking contaminated water during a cholera epidemic?
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky died in 1893 after contracting cholera from drinking unboiled water during a St. Petersburg epidemic.
15. Which composer overcame severe depression and creative block through hypnosis by Dr. Nikolai Dahl?
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Rachmaninoff underwent successful hypnotherapy with Dr. Dahl to overcome depression following the failure of his First Symphony.
16. Which eccentric French composer was known for his peculiar diet consisting exclusively of white-colored foods?
Erik Satie
Satie claimed to only eat white foods, including eggs, sugar, animal fat, salt, coconuts, and certain fish.
17. Which French Impressionist composer's first wife attempted suicide after he abandoned her?
Claude Debussy
Debussy's first wife, Lily Texier, attempted suicide after he left her for Emma Bardac in 1904.
18. Which French composer was known for his bachelor lifestyle and his collection of Siamese cats?
Maurice Ravel
Ravel never married and was known for his love of Siamese cats, which he kept at his home in Montfort-l'Amaury.
19. Which pioneering American composer's life was cut short by a brain tumor at age 38?
George Gershwin
Gershwin died in 1937 at age 38 from a malignant brain tumor, cutting short his innovative fusion of classical and jazz styles.
20. Which Thai-British musician rose to prominence in the 1990s with her electronic-classical violin performances?
Vanessa-Mae
Vanessa-Mae achieved international fame as a violin virtuoso who combined classical music with techno and pop elements.
21. In classical vocal music, which voice type has the lowest pitch range?
Bass
The bass voice is the lowest of all voice types in classical music, typically ranging from E2 to E4.
22. Which famous opera composer wrote 'Madama Butterfly' and 'La Bohème'?
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini was one of the greatest composers of Italian opera, known for his melodic and emotional works.
23. Which celebrated Irish flautist was nicknamed 'The Man with the Golden Flute'?
James Galway
James Galway earned this nickname due to his exceptional skill and his use of a golden flute in performances.
24. What term describes a virtuosic solo passage in a concerto where the orchestra typically remains silent?
Cadenza
A cadenza is a solo passage where a single instrument performs without orchestral accompaniment, showcasing the performer's virtuosity.
25. What is the English translation of the German musical term 'Lied'?
Song
Lied (plural: Lieder) is the German word for song, particularly referring to art songs of the Romantic period.
26. Which Spanish cellist is considered one of the greatest performers of the 20th century?
Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals was renowned for his interpretations of Bach's cello suites and his exceptional musicianship.
27. How many strings are traditionally found on a concert pedal harp?
47
A standard concert pedal harp typically has 47 strings, ranging from CB1 to G7.
28. In which Italian city would you find the famous La Scala Opera House?
Milan
La Scala in Milan, opened in 1778, is one of the world's most famous and prestigious opera houses.
29. Which musical tempo marking indicates a slow, leisurely pace?
Adagio
Adagio is a tempo marking indicating a slow, leisurely pace in musical performance.
30. What type of chamber ensemble consists of two violins, one viola, and one cello?
String quartet
A string quartet is composed of four players: two violinists, one violist, and one cellist.
31. On which keyboard instrument are Chopin's Nocturnes traditionally performed?
Piano
Nocturnes are romantic character pieces typically written for and performed on the piano.
32. Which German composer wrote 'The Master-Singers of Nuremberg', his only comedic opera?
Richard Wagner
This opera is Wagner's only mature comedy, contrasting with his usually serious mythological works.
33. Which 20th-century German composer is famous for the cantata 'O Fortuna'?
Carl Orff
Carl Orff composed 'Carmina Burana' in 1935-1936, with 'O Fortuna' being its most famous movement.
34. In which year did the legendary composer of the Ninth Symphony enter the world?
1770
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in December 1770, though the exact date is disputed.
35. What was the final year of Mozart's brief but brilliant life?
1791
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died on December 5, 1791, at the age of 35 in Vienna.
36. Which enchanted opera was Mozart's final contribution to the genre?
The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) premiered on September 30, 1791, just months before Mozart's death.
37. Which oratorio, based on the life of Jesus Christ, stands as Handel's most renowned composition?
Messiah
Handel's Messiah, composed in 1741, includes the famous 'Hallelujah' chorus and remains his most celebrated work.
38. In which German city did Bach serve as Thomaskantor for the majority of his professional life?
Leipzig
Bach worked in Leipzig from 1723 until his death in 1750, serving as cantor at St. Thomas Church.
39. Who was the true composer of the piece long attributed to Tomaso Albinoni?
Remo Giazotto
The famous Adagio in G minor was actually composed by musicologist Remo Giazotto in 1958, though based on a fragment of Albinoni's work.
40. Which patriotic piece caused its composer Edward Elgar great distress due to its wartime associations?
Land of Hope and Glory (Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1)
Elgar grew to dislike this piece when it became associated with jingoistic patriotism during World War I.
41. Which set of violin concertos depicting the changing seasons was composed by the 'Red Priest'?
The Four Seasons
Vivaldi composed The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni), a set of four violin concertos representing each season.
42. Which early Wagner opera was adapted from Shakespeare's 'Measure for Measure'?
Das Liebesverbot
Das Liebesverbot (The Ban on Love) was Wagner's second completed opera, based on Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.
43. Which Romantic composer penned the famous waltz that takes roughly two minutes to perform?
Frédéric Chopin
Chopin composed the Minute Waltz (Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64, No. 1), though it typically takes longer than a minute to play.
44. Which iconic Bach organ composition has become synonymous with Halloween and horror themes?
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor has become a staple of horror soundtracks and Halloween music due to its dramatic and ominous sound.
45. Which composer incorporated a police whistle into the final movement of his 'Divertissement'?
Jacques Ibert
Jacques Ibert's 'Divertissement' uniquely features a police whistle in its finale, showcasing his playful approach to orchestration.
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Try out azigy!46. Which pastoral aria from Bach's BWV 208 features gentle imagery of grazing animals?
Sheep May Safely Graze
This aria from Bach's 'Hunting Cantata' is known for its peaceful pastoral theme depicting sheep grazing under watchful protection.
47. Which Italian family revolutionized violin making in the 16th and 17th centuries?
The Amati family
The Amati family established the Cremona school of violin making and influenced future luthiers like Stradivari.
48. How many compositions comprise Brahms's complete set of Hungarian Dances?
21
Brahms composed a total of 21 Hungarian Dances, originally written for piano four-hands.
49. Which Richard Strauss composition famously opens Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'?
Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss
The dramatic opening fanfare of Strauss's tone poem 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' accompanies the iconic sunrise scene in the film.
50. In which US city was the influential American composer Aaron Copland born?
New York, NY
Aaron Copland was born in Brooklyn, New York City, where he began his musical journey.
51. From which period of music history does the compositional technique of Organum originate?
Medieval
Organum, an early form of polyphonic music, was developed during the Medieval period.
52. Which of Arcangelo Corelli's Concerti Grossi is known as the 'Christmas Concerto'?
Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8 (“Fatto per la notte di Natale”)
Corelli's Concerto Grosso No. 8 in G minor, Op. 6, is known as the 'Christmas Concerto' due to its inscription 'Fatto per la notte di Natale'.
53. In which decade did Henry Wood establish the first Promenade Concerts in London?
1890s
The first Proms concert took place in 1895 at the Queen's Hall in London.
54. Which American composer set Thomas Jefferson's words to music in 'Testament of Freedom'?
Randall Thompson
Randall Thompson composed 'Testament of Freedom' in 1943, using texts from Thomas Jefferson's writings.
55. Which Czech composer wrote the symphonic poem 'Vltava', depicting Bohemia's longest river?
Bedrich Smetana
Smetana composed 'Vltava' (The Moldau) as part of his cycle 'Má vlast', depicting the course of Bohemia's major river.