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Schubert Franz Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Schubert Franz Quizzes, Trivia

Franz Schubert Trivia

Franz Schubert Trivia Quizzes

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3 Franz Schubert quizzes and 35 Franz Schubert trivia questions.
1.
  Schubert's Songs   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's a quiz on Schubert-Lieder, some of the greatest art songs ever composed.
Average, 10 Qns, dobrov, Nov 16 21
Average
dobrov
Nov 16 21
525 plays
2.
  Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Schubert's magnificent quartet "Death and the Maiden" has captivated audiences since 1826. What do you know about "Der Tod und Das Mädchen"?
Average, 10 Qns, voilaviola, Nov 16 21
Average
voilaviola
Nov 16 21
180 plays
3.
  Schubert    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
How much do you know about Schubert, one of my favourite composers? Quite a contrast from Shostakovich!
Tough, 15 Qns, shostakovich, Nov 16 21
Tough
shostakovich
Nov 16 21
890 plays
Related Topics
  Classical Music [Music] (181 quizzes)


Franz Schubert Trivia Questions
1. Schubert began writing the quartet in 1824, but would not finish/finalize the piece for two years. It was finally performed for the first time on 1 February, 1826, in which European city?

From Quiz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"

Answer: Vienna, Austria

Franz Schubert was a native of Austria, and he lived in Vienna for the entirety of his short (31 years) life.

2. In which year was Schubert born?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: 1797

He was born on January 31, 1797, in Vienna, Austria.

3. There are two catalogs in which Schubert's works are organized: numerical order and Otto Deutsch's thematic catalog. What are the numbers for "Death and the Maiden"?

From Quiz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"

Answer: No. 14, D810

Otto Erich Deutsch cataloged Schubert's 1,515 known and traceable works into chronological order.

4. How old was Schubert when he died?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: 31

Schubert died on November 19, 1828, of typhoid fever. Unlike most other great composers, it appeared as though Schubert was unaware of his own genius.

5. The "Death and the Maiden" quartet gets its name from Schubert's song of the same name. Which movement of the quartet contains this melody?

From Quiz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"

Answer: 2nd movement

The opening movement, the Allegro, takes a sonata form and follows the keys of D minor, F major, and A minor. The second movement, the Andante con moto, takes its theme from Schubert's macabre song "Der Tod und Das Mädchen" (D531). The third movement, the Scherzo, gets its main theme from one of Schubert's piano dances. The fourth and final movement, the Presto, takes the sonata-rondo form, and modulates between major and minor.

6. How many symphonies did Schubert write (counting those finished by others)?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: 9

The same as Beethoven.

7. In 1826 Schubert wrote two songs - 'Staendchen' and 'An Silvia' to translated texts by a British author who was all the rage in Vienna at that time. Who was he?

From Quiz Schubert's Songs

Answer: William Shakespeare

Shakespeare had become greatly admired in the German-speaking lands in the last quarter of the 18th century due to the 'Sturm und Drang' movement and its emphasis on drama and individuality. 'Staendchen' (Hark, hark, the lark) is from 'Cymbeline' and 'An Silvia' (Who is Sylvia) from 'Two Gentlemen of Verona'.

8. Schubert's quartet has been arranged in several different ways. First, in 1878, who arranged "Death and the Maiden" for a piano duet?

From Quiz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"

Answer: Robert Franz

Romanian composer Anton Pann wrote the Romanian national anthem. Leos Janacek, a Czech composer, was a neoclassical composer who drew inspiration from his contemporaries, like Dvorak and Smetana. César Franck, originally from Belgium, spent much of his time in France, and was an accomplished organist in addition to being a composer. Robert Franz was a German composer who was best known for his lieder (songs).He also made arrangements of Mozart's quintets in C major and minor.

9. What number was Schubert's 'Unfinished' symphony?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: 8th

It's known as 'Unfinished' because it consists of two movements rather than the more traditional four.

10. What number was Schubert's 'Great' symphony?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: 9th

It was never performed in his lifetime, as he died in the same year.

11. Schubert obviously liked the melodies to two of his songs well enough to use them in chamber works. Which two songs are they?

From Quiz Schubert's Songs

Answer: 'Die Forelle' and 'Tod und das Maedchen'

The melody to 'Die Forelle' was incorporated into the 'Trout' quintet (1818) and 'Tod und das Maedchen' became the Quartet in D minor (1827).

12. The final arrangement we will discuss is the symphonic version, which two different composers have arranged. In the 1990s, American composer Andy Stein called it "Symphony in D minor, 'Death and the Maiden'" for full orchestra. But who did it first?

From Quiz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"

Answer: John Foulds

In 1930, Englishman John Foulds made the symphonic arrangement of Schubert's chamber piece. Foulds, originally from London, moved to Paris and traveled to India, from which he drew great influence for his original works. Benjamin Britten was also an Englishman, best know for his "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" which features variations on a melody by Henry Purcell. John Adams is a modern American composer who is best known for his opera "Nixon in China" and composes in the minimalist style. Jermiah Clarke was an English baroque composer, known for "Trumpet Voluntary," but he came well before Schubert.

13. What is Schubert's fourth Symphony better known as?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: Tragic & tragic

This was composed in 1816.

14. There are 3 Schubertian song cycles. Two the composer composed from existing texts by one author, and the third is a posthumous compilation of songs he wrote during the last years of his life. Which one is the compilation?

From Quiz Schubert's Songs

Answer: 'Schwanengesang' (Swan Song)

Both 'Die Schoene Muellerin'(20 songs)and 'Der Winterreise' (24 songs) were from texts by Wilhelm Mueller (no pun intended). Schwanengesang consists of 14 songs from various texts, including ones by Heine. His publisher was the compiler.

15. When he was 19 years old, Schubert composed a short song to a text written by Franz von Schober. It goes, 'O blessed art, how often in dark hours...have you transported me to a better world!' What's he talking about?

From Quiz Schubert's Songs

Answer: Music

The song is the deeply beautiful 'An die Musik' (To Music) (1817).

16. Schubert did not live a very long life, dying at age 31. So, how many years before his death did he finish "Death and the Maiden"?

From Quiz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"

Answer: 2

Schubert died on 19 November, 1828 at his brother Ferdinand's house. Many believe he died from syphilis, but others argue that perhaps it was typhoid fever, salmonella, or some other infection that killed him because of his syphilis.

17. What is "Death and the Maiden" about?

From Quiz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"

Answer: A maiden is about to die and begs Death to be spared

The words to this "lied" (song) are by M Claudius.

18. When was Schubert's 'Death and Maiden' Quartet composed?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: 1824

It was one of his last String Quartets.

19. Finally, to what musical era does "Death and the Maiden" (the string quartet) belong?

From Quiz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden"

Answer: Romantic

Most agree that the Romantic era of music began with Beethoven and lasted until around 1920, where it gave way to Modern music. Schubert and Beethoven were contemporaries, but Beethoven received much more recognition during his lifetime than did Schubert. The latter felt pressured by the presence of Beethoven and felt that he was inadequate because of Beethoven's prominence and popularity.

20. How many of Schubert's symphonies were published during his lifetime?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: 0

They were not rediscovered until the second half of the nineteenth century.

21. 'Der Leiermann' (The Organ-grinder) is the last and the saddest of the songs in the 'Winterreise' Song cycle. A lot of people think that Schubert took this song quite personally. Why?

From Quiz Schubert's Songs

Answer: He was poor and obscure for most of his life

'Und sein kliener Teller bleibt ihm immer leer...''And his little dish is always empty...' Although at the time of his death at the age of 31 (in 1828) Schubert's star was finally on the rise, he suffered brutally from poverty and neglect for most of his life. This, however, did not stop him from being one of the most prolific and inspired composers of all time.

22. When Schubert played quartets with his father and older brothers, which instrument did he always play?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: viola

His brothers, Ferdinand and Ignaz, played first and second violin and his Papa played cello.

23. In which year did Schubert compose the 'Trout' Quintet?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: 1819

He was 22.

24. How many songs did Schubert write?

From Quiz Schubert

Answer: More than 600

Phew! Hard to believe he died at 31!

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