Composers and Lyricists Trivia

1. Where was Cole Porter born?

From Quiz Night and Day: A Cole Porter Quiz

Answer: Peru, Indiana

Cole was born on June 9, 1891, to Sam and Kate (nee Cole) Porter. His father was a druggist and his mother was a well educated daughter of a wealthy man. Being an only child, he was doted on and spoiled. Cole's musical training started early, and by the age of six he could play violin, and wrote his first music score by the age of ten.

From Quiz Gershwin: Name that Show

Answer: "A Dangerous Maid" -- 1923

This song was later included in the show "My One and Only" created in 1983 from previously released songs.

From Quiz The Lyrics of Gershwin

Answer: chipper

This is from the song 'I Got Rhythm' from 'Girl Crazy' - it was immortalised by Ella Fitzgerald.

From Quiz "Lord of the Dance" & "Feet of Flames"

Answer: Point Theatre, Dublin

The Point Theatre was also the site of the first "Riverdance" performance.

From Quiz Sir Tim Rice, The Musical Lyric Legend.

Answer: 1994

Very well respected, great songwriter, Ambassador for England. The list is endless, However, find someone who bad mouthes him and you have found a liar.

From Quiz Frank Wildhorn and His Musicals

Answer: fourth

The 1990 concept album with Colm Wilkinson and Linda Eder, the 1995 double CD concept album with Anthony Warlow and Linda Eder, and the 1997 Original Broadway Cast Album with Robert Cuccioli and Linda Eder. In 2006 'Jekyll & Hyde: Resurrection feat. Rob Evan, Kate Shindle and Brandi Burkhardt' came out.

From Quiz Cole Porter Lyrics

Answer: Anything Goes

"Anything Goes", "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "All That Jazz" all relish the decadence of modern times. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" is from the musical by the same name. "All That Jazz" was written by Kander and Ebb for the musical "Chicago". "So What" is from the musical "Cabaret".

From Quiz Victor Herbert

Answer: The Fortune Teller

"The Fortune Teller" (1898) was written for Broadway star Alice Nielson, who had formed her own production company. The title character is Musette, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Irma, an heiress and (conveniently) ballet student. Irma's twin brother Fedor is an Hungarian hussar. Miss Nielson played all three roles, a tradition followed in later revivals. Leading songs from "The Fortune Teller" include "Gypsy Love Song (Slumber On, My Little Gypsy Sweetheart)" and "Romany Life". The Hungarian setting seemed exotic to American audiences, but was familiar to Herbert from his performance career in central Europe before emigrating to the United States.

From Quiz Night and Day: A Cole Porter Quiz

Answer: See America First

While attending Yale, Cole had written the music and lyrics for several shows, and the show "See America First" was an effort created with several classmates. It was intended as a spoof of a production by George M. Cohan. The show opened at the Maxine Elliott Theatre on March 28, 1916, but it closed after 15 showings. The songs for this can be found at the Library of Congress, as well as many of his other compositions. From the song "See America First" "Of European lands effete, A most inveterate foe, My feelings when my camp I greet Are such as patriots know. Condemning trips across the blue As dollars badly dispersed, I hold that loyal men and true, Including in the category all of you, Should see America first, Should see America first."

From Quiz Gershwin: Name that Show

Answer: "Lady, Be Good" -- 1924

This was introduced by Cliff Edwards, Fred and Adele Astaire.

From Quiz "Lord of the Dance" & "Feet of Flames"

Answer: Riverdance

Michael left "Riverdance" when told he could not have full creative power over the show.

From Quiz Sir Tim Rice, The Musical Lyric Legend.

Answer: 'The Fallen Priest '

This track, scored by Freddie, appeared on the 1988 album 'Barcelona'.

From Quiz Boublil and Schoenberg Musicals

Answer: Jim Steinman

Jim Steinman wrote the lyrics of Lloyd Webber's 'Whistle Down The Wind' and he composed 'Tanz der Vampire' ('Dance of the Vampires'), but he didn't translate for B and S. Kretzmer did 'Les Miz', Maltby Jr. 'Miss Saigon', and Stephen Clarke translated 'Martin Guerre'. together with Edward Hardy.

From Quiz Frank Wildhorn and His Musicals

Answer: two

The original concept album with Linda Eder, the Original Broadway Cast Album with Douglas Sills and Christine Andreas, and an Encore album that includes songs from the Broadway Cast album and songs from the revised version of the show.

From Quiz Cole Porter Lyrics

Answer: Miss Otis

"Miss Otis Regrets" tells the story of a woman who strayed down in lover's lane. When she awoke and found her dream of love was gone, she got a gun and shot her lover down. The mob came and dragged her away and strung her on the old willow across the way. All of which is more than enough reason not to be able to keep a lunch appointment.

From Quiz Victor Herbert

Answer: He was conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Victor Herbert attempted to balance composing with a career as a performer and conductor. He spent 11 seasons with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra as a solo cellist, guest conductor and assistant conductor. In 1898, he was appointed principal conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony, serving until 1904. The orchestra gained national standing under his baton, but he had little time to compose. In 1904, he left to found the Victor Herbert Orchestra. This allowed him to coordinate his composing with summer tours and concerts. Beginning in 1909, his orchestra - and Herbert himself as a solo cellist - made numerous recordings for the Edison and Victor companies.

From Quiz Gershwin: Name that Show

Answer: "Oh, Kay!" -- 1926

This song was introduced by Gertrude Lawrence.

From Quiz The Lyrics of Gershwin

Answer: Deep blue sea

This is 'I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' and it comes from 'Porgy and Bess'. It's one of the songs that was written by DuBose Heyward in partnership with Ira Gershwin.

From Quiz "Lord of the Dance" & "Feet of Flames"

Answer: Bernadette Flynn

Bernadette is a six-time World Champion, seven-time All-Ireland Champion, and has quite a few other titles to boast. Michael has said dancing with Bernadette is like dancing with air.

From Quiz Sir Tim Rice, The Musical Lyric Legend.

Answer: 5

'Aladdin', 'The Lion King', 'Beauty and the Beast', 'King David' and 'Aida'.

From Quiz Boublil and Schoenberg Musicals

Answer: Sommersby & Somersby

The difference between the movie and the musical - apart from names and places, of course - is that the real Sommersby is really dead. Martin is still alive and was just thought to be dead. There are some other movies as well, one starring Gerard Depardieu as 'Martin'.

From Quiz Frank Wildhorn and His Musicals

Answer: Nan Knighton & Knighton

From Quiz Cole Porter Lyrics

Answer: When they begin the Beguine

"Begin the Beguine" was introduced in the 1935 musical "Jubilee" but became popular after it was recorded by Artie Shaw and included in "Broadway Melody of 1940" and Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell danced to it. The other answers are lyrics from other musicals. "The Way You Look Tonight" was written by Jerome Kern; "On the Street Where You Live" was written by Lerner and Lowe. And "flying so high with some guy in the sky" is a lyric from "I Get a Kick Out of You", which was written by Porter.

From Quiz Victor Herbert

Answer: Babes in Toyland

The songs "Toyland" and "March of the Toys" - the real title; not "Wooden Soldiers" - remain holiday staples over a century later. The original plot of "Babes in Toyland" wasn't kid-friendly: a plan to murder a pair of orphan children; a Master Toymaker who designs killing machines; the deaths of two characters on stage. Subsequent revivals altered the plot while retaining the principal musical numbers. "Babes in Toyland" was inspired by the success of a stage-musical version of "The Wizard of Oz". (The 1939 movie "Oz" had an original score - nothing from the 1903 musical.) The 1903 "Oz" faded quickly, while "Babes" lives on.

From Quiz Gershwin: Name that Show

Answer: "Porgy and Bess" -- 1935

Oft cited as the most popular song from the show, this quickly became and has remained a standard. One web site lists more than 15,000 recordings.

From Quiz "Lord of the Dance" & "Feet of Flames"

Answer: Gillian Norris

The fiery Gillian is third place finisher at the World Championships. She started dancing at age eleven but at first wasn't very interested in it. It wasn't until she began winning competitions that she began to like dancing. Michael has said that Gillian is the fire of the show.

From Quiz Men Who Make Broadway Musicals

Answer: Stephen Schwartz

The others are all fine talents, but these two belong to Schwartz. ("Godspell" featured the popular "Day by Day".)

From Quiz Sir Tim Rice, The Musical Lyric Legend.

Answer: Sir Elton John

The whole show took only two 'knights' to write...Sorry.

From Quiz Boublil and Schoenberg Musicals

Answer: Madame Chrysantheme

'Papillon' means 'butterfly' in French, but the original novel was called 'Madame Chrysantheme'. I made up the other novels - at least I don't know them if they exist.

From Quiz Cole Porter Lyrics

Answer: You, you, you

"Night and Day" was written for the 1932 musical "The Gay Divorcee." Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance one of their most famous pieces to the song. It was one of Porter's biggest hits, and the 1946 Hollywood film about his life starring Cary Grant is titled "Night and Day." (FYI, the film is highly fictionalized...ignoring things such as Porter's homosexuality.)

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