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Quiz about Famous Songs and Melodies
Quiz about Famous Songs and Melodies

Famous Songs and Melodies Trivia Quiz


This quiz is about some of the most popular and famous pieces of music (mainly songs) from the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by Southendboy. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Southendboy
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
402,288
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
368
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 98 (10/10), Guest 173 (5/10), misstified (9/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. This song is said to be the most recognised song in the English language. The melody was written in the US by the Hill sisters in 1893, while the combination of melody and lyrics dates to about 1911. What is its title? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The words to this well-known hymn were written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton in 1772 and it was set to the tune "New Britain" by American composer William Walker in 1835. President Obama sang it at a church service in Charleston in 2015. What is its title? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This lyrics of this hymn were written by an Anglican minister, Henry Francis Lyte, as he lay dying in 1847; the melody, "Eventide", was composed by William Henry Monk in 1861. The hymn asks for God's presence throughout the whole of life. Since 1927 the hymn has become associated with a sporting event that takes place annually at a stadium in North London. What is its title? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This gospel song was written in about 1865 by Wallis Willis, who was a Choctaw freedman living in Oklahoma. It became popular after a local minister, Alexander Reid, heard Willis singing the song and transcribed it. The earliest known recording dates to 1909, but subsequently many other musicians have recorded it including Eric Clapton and Bing Crosby. It also has connections with a sports stadium in West London. What is the title of this song? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This tune (**NOT a song**) was written by Arthur Wood in 1924. The recording by The Sydney Torch Orchestra is heard on BBC Radio in the UK by millions of people five days a week, and an accordion-based version by The Yetties is heard every Sunday. What is the title of this tune? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This song was originally written in 1967 by French songwriter Jacques Revaux and recorded by Claude Francois. However it subsequently had new lyrics put to it by Paul Anka and has since spent over 120 weeks in the US and UK charts. It has been recorded by artists ranging from crooners to punks - what is the title of this song? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The words to this unofficial national anthem were written by the author and bush poet Banjo Paterson in 1895, while the music derives from an old Scottish folk song; the complete song was published as sheet music in 1903, and the first recorded version was released in 1926. There is a museum dedicated to the song in the town of Winton, near where Paterson wrote the lyrics. What's the title of this song? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. It's said that when this song was first written in 1965 it started with the words "Scrambled eggs, Oh my baby how I love your legs". Despite this, in 2000 both MTV and "Rolling Stone" magazine voted it the Number One pop song of all time. What's its title? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This famous chorus is the 44th movement of an Oratorio comprised of 53 movements, first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742. Traditionally, all the members of the audience stand while it is sung. What is the title of this movement (**NOT the title of the Oratorio**)? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This lovely song was written in 1940 by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington. It was first heard in a movie that year, performed by a cricket, and later became the representative song of one of the largest entertainment companies in the world: it's even used as the horn signal on its cruise liners! What's the title of this song? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This song is said to be the most recognised song in the English language. The melody was written in the US by the Hill sisters in 1893, while the combination of melody and lyrics dates to about 1911. What is its title?

Answer: Happy Birthday to You

I would think that everyone reading this quiz knows this song and I'm sure they'll all have happy memories of the occasions on which it was sung, either to them or by them. My best memory of it is of Marilyn Monroe, sewn into her dress, singing it at President Kennedy's birthday party in 1962! The "Guinness Book of Records" states that this is the most recognisable song in the English language, followed by "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow".
2. The words to this well-known hymn were written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton in 1772 and it was set to the tune "New Britain" by American composer William Walker in 1835. President Obama sang it at a church service in Charleston in 2015. What is its title?

Answer: Amazing Grace

"Amazing Grace" is another very recognisable song! John Newton lived an eventful life, in turn a conscripted sailor, a shipwreck survivor, a slave trader and then an Anglican clergyman. It has been recorded thousands of times, becoming more and more closely associated with various Civil Rights movements in the US; in fact Arlo Guthrie sang it at Woodstock in 1969. "Nearer My God to Thee" is the hymn that is said to have been played by the ship's orchestra as RMS Titanic slid blow the waves.
3. This lyrics of this hymn were written by an Anglican minister, Henry Francis Lyte, as he lay dying in 1847; the melody, "Eventide", was composed by William Henry Monk in 1861. The hymn asks for God's presence throughout the whole of life. Since 1927 the hymn has become associated with a sporting event that takes place annually at a stadium in North London. What is its title?

Answer: Abide with Me

"Abide With Me" is a popular and powerful hymn that is frequently sung at funerals and commemorations, especially of wartime events. It was sung in 1927 at the first FA Cup Final to take place at the Wembley Stadium in North London (and in 1929 at the first Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at the same venue), and has been sung every year since. Surprisingly, in 1957 Thelonius Monk recorded an instrumental jazz version!
4. This gospel song was written in about 1865 by Wallis Willis, who was a Choctaw freedman living in Oklahoma. It became popular after a local minister, Alexander Reid, heard Willis singing the song and transcribed it. The earliest known recording dates to 1909, but subsequently many other musicians have recorded it including Eric Clapton and Bing Crosby. It also has connections with a sports stadium in West London. What is the title of this song?

Answer: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Willis worked beside the Red River in Oklahoma, and it is suggested that the comparison between this river and the River Jordan gave rise to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". It is now the official Oklahoma State Gospel Song. Willis also wrote another famous gospel song, "Steal Away".

The sports venue in West London alluded to in the question is Twickenham Rugby Stadium, the largest rugby stadium in the world; English rugby fans started singing "Swing Low" at matches there in the late 1980s, especially when the England team was playing well!
5. This tune (**NOT a song**) was written by Arthur Wood in 1924. The recording by The Sydney Torch Orchestra is heard on BBC Radio in the UK by millions of people five days a week, and an accordion-based version by The Yetties is heard every Sunday. What is the title of this tune?

Answer: Barwick Green / "The Archers" Theme Tune

"The Archers" is a soap opera about rural life that's been broadcast by the BBC six days a week since 1951; the Sydney Torch recording is used for the Monday to Friday broadcasts and the version by the Yetties is used for the Sunday omnibus edition. Most people know the theme tune, but don't know that its actual title is "Barwick Green"; it was written by Arthur Wood as a "maypole dance" in his suite "My Native Heath".

The tune was played as part of the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games in London in 2012. All the incorrect answers are pieces of music written by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
6. This song was originally written in 1967 by French songwriter Jacques Revaux and recorded by Claude Francois. However it subsequently had new lyrics put to it by Paul Anka and has since spent over 120 weeks in the US and UK charts. It has been recorded by artists ranging from crooners to punks - what is the title of this song?

Answer: My Way

"My Way" as sung by Frank Sinatra is an iconic song, but I very much preferred the Sid Vicious version! Still, Sinatra's version spent 75 weeks in the UK Top 40, a long-standing and probably unbeatable record (pun not intended). It's also the most frequently played song at funerals in the UK, and it was the first dance song played at President Trump's inauguration ball - make of those facts what you will. All the incorrect answers are songs that were French winners of the Eurovision Song Contest.
7. The words to this unofficial national anthem were written by the author and bush poet Banjo Paterson in 1895, while the music derives from an old Scottish folk song; the complete song was published as sheet music in 1903, and the first recorded version was released in 1926. There is a museum dedicated to the song in the town of Winton, near where Paterson wrote the lyrics. What's the title of this song?

Answer: Waltzing Mathilda

"Waltzing Mathilda" is the best known bush ballad in Australia - the tale of a poor traveller who catches and cooks a sheep for his dinner, only to be caught in the act by a policeman. Rather than be arrested, he jumps in a pool and drowns himself; his ghost remains to haunt the site.

In 1977 when the Australian government was searching for a new national anthem, "Waltzing Mathilda" came in second place in the poll with 28% of the vote. The other answer options are songs by famous Australian groups.
8. It's said that when this song was first written in 1965 it started with the words "Scrambled eggs, Oh my baby how I love your legs". Despite this, in 2000 both MTV and "Rolling Stone" magazine voted it the Number One pop song of all time. What's its title?

Answer: Yesterday

"Yesterday" was written by Paul McCartney in 1965. It is said that he heard the song in a dream, but upon waking he immediately went to a piano and transcribed it. Despite his worries that he'd subconsciously plagiarised the song, McCartney used the lyrics quoted in the question to hold the tune in place.

The idea for the actual title came much later. Since its release the song has been analysed to death and recorded by over 1,600 artists. A nice little earner!
9. This famous chorus is the 44th movement of an Oratorio comprised of 53 movements, first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742. Traditionally, all the members of the audience stand while it is sung. What is the title of this movement (**NOT the title of the Oratorio**)?

Answer: The Hallelujah Chorus

"The Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah" Oratorio is one of the most famous pieces of choral music, and has been performed and recorded countless times. Audiences rise to their feet at the start of this chorus, possibly in emulation of King George II who did so when he first heard the work. Whether he did so out of reverence for the music or because he had pins and needles in his feet is a moot point.

The other answer options are all arias from the Oratorio.
10. This lovely song was written in 1940 by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington. It was first heard in a movie that year, performed by a cricket, and later became the representative song of one of the largest entertainment companies in the world: it's even used as the horn signal on its cruise liners! What's the title of this song?

Answer: When You Wish Upon A Star

"When You Wish Upon A Star" is a lovely song, full of hope and yearning. It was sung by the character of Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Cliff Edwards) at the start and finish of the Disney cartoon movie, "Pinocchio" in 1940. As stated in the question, it has become an icon of the Disney Corporation for over 60 years, and it was voted into seventh place in the Top 100 Greatest Songs in Film History by the American Film Institute. And if you watch and listen very carefully you'll find that it makes an appearance in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"! The other answer options are all songs from Disney movies.
Source: Author Southendboy

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