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Quiz about 10 Favorite Concert Band Works

10 Favorite Concert Band Works Quiz

No particular order; no particular ranking; just 10 compositions that are popular judging by frequency of programming and recording. How many of these are familiar to you?

A multiple-choice quiz by marchlover. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
marchlover

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
322,008

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
288

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Although Joseph Wilcox Jenkins has written many works for band, this one is by far his most popular work due to its effervescent character. If you are a French Horn player, you will either embrace this work or run and hide from it. Which composition am I talking about? Hint

Tartan Suite

Toccata for Winds

American Overture for Band

Cumberland Gap Overture

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Question 2 of 10

2. An old Shaker hymn is the basis of this work by John Zdechlik (b. 1937). What did he call this piece? Hint

Simple Gifts

Variations on a Shaker Melody

Shaker Variants

Chorale and Shaker Dance

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Question 3 of 10

3. Following on the popularity of band suites based on British folk songs, this British composer penned his "An Original Suite" made up, as the title implies, by all original melodies. Can you name the composer who came up with this "original" idea? Hint

Gustav Holst

Gordon Jacob

Ralph Vaughn Williams

Percy Grainger

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Question 4 of 10

4. Donald H. White (b.1921) wrote this suite consisting of 5 short movements. What did he call it? Hint

A Suite in Five Short Movments

Miniature Suite

Miniature Set for Band

Brevities

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Question 5 of 10

5. The beguine started as a West Indies Dance and has found its way into wide use as a style on the "lighter side". "Beguine for Band" is a great example of this form. It was written in in 1954 and has been recorded several times, most recently by the Dallas Wind Symphony under Frederick Fennell. Who wrote this piece? Hint

Glenn Osser

Galen Osprey

Oscar Glenn

George Oliver

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Question 6 of 10

6. In 1956 William Schumann (1910-1992) wrote a 3 movement piece for orchestra called "A New England Triptych" based hymns of William Billings. In 1957, Schumann took the third movement,expanded it, and scored it for band. What title was this piece published under? Hint

Chester Overture for Band

When Jesus Wept

Be Glad Then, America

On a Hymn of William Billings

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Question 7 of 10

7. Written in 1951 by Peter Mennin (1923-1983) on a commission by the League of Composers and premiered by the Goldman Band, this piece explores the sonorities of the modern concert band with influences of renaissance composer Giovanni Gabrieli. What did Mennin call this composition? Hint

Antiphonies

Branle for Winds and Percussion

Sonare for Band

Canzona

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Suite Francaise" was commissioned in 1945 by Leeds Music publishing in an effort to promote new concert band literature by contemporary composers. This work, written in five parts, commemorates the French Provinces in which the American and Allied armies, along with the French Resistance faught to liberate France in World War II. The composer was asscoiated with what was known as the French "Les Six". Do you recognize his name? Hint

Francis Poulenc

Georges Auric

Arthur Honneger

Darius Milhaud

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Question 9 of 10

9. H.Owen Reed wrote this three movement work, subtitled "A Mexican Folk Song Symphony for Concert Band". What is the actual name of this descriptive piece? Hint

Mosaico de Mexico

La Fiesta Mexicana

Chapultepec for Band

Tres Danzas de Mexico

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Question 10 of 10

10. Vittorio Giannini (1903-1966) wrote only five works for concert band, but this large-scale, four movement work is probably the most recorded American work for band. Do you know which one I am talking about? Hint

Variations and Fugue

Dedication Overture

Symphony No.3

Fantasia

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: American Overture for Band

"American Overture" was written in 1956 for the U.S. Army Field Band and was Jenkins first published work for band. The others were also by Jenkins (born 1928), but this was one definately proved its popularity over the years.

2. An old Shaker hymn is the basis of this work by John Zdechlik (b. 1937). What did he call this piece?

Answer: Chorale and Shaker Dance

"Chorale and Shaker Dance" was indeed based on the old Shaker tune called "Simple Gifts" and utilized in the form of a chorale and then a dance--hence the name. It was premiered in 1972

("Variations on a Shaker Melody" was by Aaron Copleland from his ballet "Appalachian Spring". "Shaker Variants" was a title I made up, but somebody else could have used it by now)

Answer: Gordon Jacob

Holst wrote the two Suites for Military Band (Eb and F); Vaughn Williams did "English Folk Song Suite" and Grainger scored many folk songs for winds. Gordon Jacob (1895-1984) was born in London and educated at the Royal Acadamy of Music. He wrote "An Original Suite" in 1928 and it was his first published band work.

Other band works of his include "The William Byrd Suite" and "Flag of Stars".

4. Donald H. White (b.1921) wrote this suite consisting of 5 short movements. What did he call it?

Answer: Miniature Set for Band

"Miniature Set" was premiered in 1958. It's movements are titled Prelude; Monologue; Interlude; Dialogue; and Postlude. "Miniature Set" was voted as the most outstanding contribution to the band's literature for 1958 by the CBDNA (College Band Directors National Association).

Answer: Glenn Osser

Abe (Glenn) Osser was born August 28, 1914. Abe was his real name, but the name Glenn was suggested by Paul Whiteman who felt that had a better ring to it. Osser wrote music under both names and others as well. He was a staff arranger and conductor for the American Broadcasting Company from 1947 to 1968 as well as a music director for the Miss American Pageant starting in the 1950's.

He wrote many other light pieces for band such as "Music for A Summer Night", "Studio One" and "Beguine Again".

Answer: Chester Overture for Band

"On A Hymn...." I made up. The other two choices were the other movements of "New England Triptych". Those he eventally scored for band as well, but it was "Chester" that he expanded (by adding a lot more fast notes)

Schuman's other concert band works include "George Washington Bridge" and "Newsreel in 5 Shots".

Answer: Canzona

"Canzona" was Mennin's first original work for band. (The other titles are, of course, made up).

Answer: Darius Milhaud

Milhaud was born in Aix-en-Provence, France in 1892, and died in Geneva in 1974. He fled to the United States when the German Army occupied France in WWII. "Suite Francaise" was premiered by the Goldman Band and was so successful he was commissioned to score the piece for the New York Philharmonic.

9. H.Owen Reed wrote this three movement work, subtitled "A Mexican Folk Song Symphony for Concert Band". What is the actual name of this descriptive piece?

Answer: La Fiesta Mexicana

"La Fiesta Mexicana" was published in 1954 and consists of three movements(I.Prelude and Aztec Dance II. Mass III. Carnival) depicting various elements of a religious festival dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is one of the most recorded works for band.

"Mosaico.." was composed by George Gates; "Chapultepec" by Carlos Chavez: and "Tres Danzas.." by William Rhodes.

Answer: Symphony No.3

"Symphony No. 3" was composed in 1958 and recorded by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Dallas Wind Symphony, and nearly every college band with a music program. It was commissioned by the Duke University Band. Giannini was one of the founders and first president of the University Of North Carolina School For the Arts starting in 1962. All the other titles listed were written by him as well as "Praeludium and Allegro".

Source: Author marchlover

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