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Quiz about CMMs Guide to Classical Music by Rockers
Quiz about CMMs Guide to Classical Music by Rockers

CM/M's Guide to Classical Music by Rockers Quiz


Match your knowledge of classical music to your knowledge of who played what in the world of rock. Remember that the terms Baroque (1600-1760), Classical (1730-1820), Romantic (1815-1910) and Modern (1900-) describe periods and styles of Classical music.

A multiple-choice quiz by laughinglion. Estimated time: 8 mins.
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Author
laughinglion
Time
8 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
310,053
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Very Difficult
Avg Score
4 / 10
Plays
622
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Ludvig van Beethoven (1770-1827), a German composer and piano virtuoso, was one of the giants of classical music. Which of these classic rockers literally took the Fifth when they asked Beethoven to roll over? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), a Russian composer, was known for melodic romantic music. He wrote both "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker Suite". Which of these classic rockers marched to one of his tunes? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) was one of Russia's group of composers called "The Mighty Handful". His opera, "The Tale of Tsar Saltan, of his Son the Renowned and Mighty Bogatyr Prince Gvidon Saltanovich and of the Beautiful Swan Princess", is usually called just "Tsar Saltan". In Act Three Scene One, Gvidon is marooned on an island with his mother. He first saves and then is rewarded by a magic swan. The swan transforms him into a certain insect so he can fly to see what his father is doing and not be recognized. Which of these classic rockers play their own arrangement of the music that accompanies that flight? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Aaron Copland (1900-1990) is known as the dean of American composers and he championed the importance of home grown American music. He wrote modern music for theater, schools, ballet and movies. Which of these classic rockers played his music with great fanfare? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) a Russian composer, is grouped with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Mily Balakirev, Cesar Cui and Alexander Borodin, and they are known as "The Mighty Handful". They strove to infuse a decidedly Russian flavor into their music. Which group of classic rockers exhibited their take on one of his most famous works? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Gustav Holst (1874-1908) was English and the composer of a seven-movement orchestral suite called "The Planets". The first movement is called "Mars the Bringer of War". I first heard it as background music on the old Buster Crabbe serial "Flash Gordon". Which of these classic rockers played their homage to the Red Planet? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was an extremely prolific and important German composer of the classical period with over 600 works. Many are acknowledged masterpieces of classic symphonic, choral, opera and chamber music. Astonishingly, all were written by the age of 35. Which of these classic rockers played for Mozart's side? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer of the Baroque period. He was famous as an organist, although he was not well known as a composer while he lived. His contemporaries thought him old-fashioned, but early in the 19th century his genius became revered. Amongst his works such as "The Brandenburg Concertos", "The Well-Tempered Clavier" and "The Magnificat" he also penned a pretty little piece for a French dance. Which classic rockers set our feet to tapping with their variation of Bach's dance? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Aram Khachaturian (1903-1997) was an Armenian composer and much of his work was inspired by his native Armenia's folklore. Along with Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev, he is referred to as one of the Three Titans of Soviet Music. One of Aram's pieces involves wild dancing with cutlery. Which classic rockers took a stab at playing this dance? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was a Norwegian composer best known for his "Piano Concerto in A minor". He also composed the incidental music for fellow Norwegian Henrik Ibsen's satirical play "Peer Gynt". The extracted music was reorganized as "The Peer Gynt Suite No. 1". The fourth movement of Op. 46, "I Dovregubbens Hall" or, as we know it, "In the Hall of the Mountain King" is one of his most recognized pieces. Which of these classic rockers played the music that accompanied Peer Gynt's dream of adventure and escape from the Mountain King's stronghold, pursuit by the King's trolls and a wedding to a pregnant troll princess? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Ludvig van Beethoven (1770-1827), a German composer and piano virtuoso, was one of the giants of classical music. Which of these classic rockers literally took the Fifth when they asked Beethoven to roll over?

Answer: All of these

Coming in at Number 97 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 most influential songs, Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" was written for his sister Lucy. It was said to be sibling rivalry over the family piano that inspired it. Lucy wanted to play Classical and he wanted to play up-to-date music. None of Beethoven's music is in this version.
The Beatles' cover of Chuck's song is just good old rock and roll music.
Just like the baby bear's bed, the Electric Light Orchestra's arrangement is just right. Their 1973 version off of the album "ELO2" is introduced with the opening of Beethoven's Fifth, with passages of the first movement incorporated into the body of the song. It became their signature piece.
2. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), a Russian composer, was known for melodic romantic music. He wrote both "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker Suite". Which of these classic rockers marched to one of his tunes?

Answer: All of these

R. C. Gamble, also known as Billy Bumble, the guitarist with the Stingers, had a hit in 1962 with "Nut Rocker", a rock and roll arrangement of "The March of the Wooden Soldiers". It went to Number One on the UK Singles Chart in Britain and Number 23 in the USA on Billboard.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer covered "Nut Rocker" in 1972.
Finally, a surf rock arrangement called "Nutty" was released by the Ventures in the mid 1960s. It was adopted by the Boston Bruins hockey team as their theme music.
3. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) was one of Russia's group of composers called "The Mighty Handful". His opera, "The Tale of Tsar Saltan, of his Son the Renowned and Mighty Bogatyr Prince Gvidon Saltanovich and of the Beautiful Swan Princess", is usually called just "Tsar Saltan". In Act Three Scene One, Gvidon is marooned on an island with his mother. He first saves and then is rewarded by a magic swan. The swan transforms him into a certain insect so he can fly to see what his father is doing and not be recognized. Which of these classic rockers play their own arrangement of the music that accompanies that flight?

Answer: Manowar

"The Flight of the Bumble Bee" is Rimsky-Korsakov's most recognized work. Manowar's heavy metal arrangement "Sting of the Bee" is revved up from the original's already fast pace. It showcases Joey De Maio's impressive bass playing. This arrangement is more in keeping with Scene Two of Act Three where the bee stings two conspiring princesses, blinding one.
4. Aaron Copland (1900-1990) is known as the dean of American composers and he championed the importance of home grown American music. He wrote modern music for theater, schools, ballet and movies. Which of these classic rockers played his music with great fanfare?

Answer: All of these

"Fanfare for the Common Man" was written as one of eighteen fanfares to open concerts at the end of the second world war for Eugene Goosen of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. It premiered at income tax time. Copland said "I'm all for honoring the common man at income tax time."
In 1977 Emerson, Lake and Palmer on their album "Works Volume 1" had a huge hit with it. Previously having scored a hit with "Hoedown" from Copeland's ballet "Rodeo", they often played them both in concert.
The Rolling Stones have it on their album "Love You Live" from 1977.
The band Styx, known mostly for their hits"Come Sail Away"and "Mr. Roboto", have a version on their 1972 self-titled debut album that opens with a suite called "Movement for the Common Man". The third section of the suite, entitled "Fanfare for the Common Man", is based on the Copland original.
5. Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) a Russian composer, is grouped with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Mily Balakirev, Cesar Cui and Alexander Borodin, and they are known as "The Mighty Handful". They strove to infuse a decidedly Russian flavor into their music. Which group of classic rockers exhibited their take on one of his most famous works?

Answer: Emerson, Lake and Palmer

"Pictures at an Exhibition" was written by Modest to commemorate the death of Viktor Hartmann, an artist friend. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, with the March 1971 release of "Pictures at an Exhibition", brought new popularity with a fresh audience to Mussorgsky's work.
6. Gustav Holst (1874-1908) was English and the composer of a seven-movement orchestral suite called "The Planets". The first movement is called "Mars the Bringer of War". I first heard it as background music on the old Buster Crabbe serial "Flash Gordon". Which of these classic rockers played their homage to the Red Planet?

Answer: All of these

Dave Edmunds, with a Welsh blues rock band called Love Sculpture, played it on their second album "Forms and Feelings" but it appeared only on the US pressing.
David Bowie, with a band called The Lower Third, played a version live on stage in 1965 and 1966, complete with feedback.
King Crimson often played it as an improvisational encore at the end of 1969 live sets. Then it appeared on the 1970 recording of "In the Wake of Poseidon".
7. Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was an extremely prolific and important German composer of the classical period with over 600 works. Many are acknowledged masterpieces of classic symphonic, choral, opera and chamber music. Astonishingly, all were written by the age of 35. Which of these classic rockers played for Mozart's side?

Answer: Episode Six

In 1969 Episode Six recorded "Mozart vs. the Rest". Soon afterwards Ian Gillan and Roger Glover, respectively the vocalist and bass player of Episode Six, changed bands to play with guitarist Ritchie Blackmore in a band called Deep Purple. They were known best for hits like "Hush" and "Smoke on the Water".
8. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer of the Baroque period. He was famous as an organist, although he was not well known as a composer while he lived. His contemporaries thought him old-fashioned, but early in the 19th century his genius became revered. Amongst his works such as "The Brandenburg Concertos", "The Well-Tempered Clavier" and "The Magnificat" he also penned a pretty little piece for a French dance. Which classic rockers set our feet to tapping with their variation of Bach's dance?

Answer: Jethro Tull

A number of dance pieces by other composers are Bourrees. Handel and Chopin both wrote pieces to dance a Bourree and Bach wrote more than one. Jethro Tull, on their 1969 album "Stand Up", recorded "Bouree". It is based on Bach's "Suite in E minor for Lute" and features Ian Anderson on flute.
9. Aram Khachaturian (1903-1997) was an Armenian composer and much of his work was inspired by his native Armenia's folklore. Along with Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev, he is referred to as one of the Three Titans of Soviet Music. One of Aram's pieces involves wild dancing with cutlery. Which classic rockers took a stab at playing this dance?

Answer: Love Sculpture

Love Sculpture's big hit in 1968, "Saber Dance" gave this Cardiff band international exposure. Dave Edmunds has still been known to play his blistering version decades later.
10. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was a Norwegian composer best known for his "Piano Concerto in A minor". He also composed the incidental music for fellow Norwegian Henrik Ibsen's satirical play "Peer Gynt". The extracted music was reorganized as "The Peer Gynt Suite No. 1". The fourth movement of Op. 46, "I Dovregubbens Hall" or, as we know it, "In the Hall of the Mountain King" is one of his most recognized pieces. Which of these classic rockers played the music that accompanied Peer Gynt's dream of adventure and escape from the Mountain King's stronghold, pursuit by the King's trolls and a wedding to a pregnant troll princess?

Answer: All of these

Big Brother and the Holding Company performed their version in 1967 on "Come Up the Years", a show broadcast by KQED TV in San Francisco, California. This was pre-Janis Joplin but the band was popular locally.
Apollo 100 was a studio band in Britain. They released a very popular version in 1972 on their album "Joy".
The Who, on their great 1967 concept album "The Who Sell Out", have released it as a bonus track on the CD. It was previously recorded in 1967 and is infamous as "The Who's freak-out version".
All the classical music and most of the rock versions cited in this quiz can be found on You Tube. Enjoy.
Source: Author laughinglion

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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