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Quiz about 20th Century Music Around the World 1

20th Century Music Around the World [1] Quiz

A trip around the world, looking at composers and their music during the last century.

A multiple-choice quiz by PianoWilmer. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
PianoWilmer

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
178,175

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
520

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. We'll start our trip around the world in California, USA. Which young composer wrote the opera "Dead Man Walking", based on the film of the same name? Hint

George Coleman

Andre Previn

Jake Heggie

Lowell Liebermann

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Question 2 of 10

2. Westward to China! Which of these contemporary composers is noted for his experimentation with multimedia and nonstandard instruments such as water and rocks in his compositions? Hint

Tan Dun

Xhou Long

Chen Yi

Lang Lang

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Question 3 of 10

3. To India, a nation with its own rich history of classical music. With whom has the sitar performer Ravi Shankar collaborated on several works? Hint

Karlheinz Stockhausen

George Crumb

Philip Glass

Michael Tippett

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Question 4 of 10

4. Next, we travel to Vienna: the center of European classical music! Of the three key members of the "second Viennese school", which wrote a piece dedicated "to the memory of an angel"? Hint

None of these three

Arnold Schoenberg

Alban Berg

Anton Webern

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Question 5 of 10

5. Northward to Russia. Alfred Schnittke wrote a scathingly harsh opera commenting on the relationship between the Russian people and the Communist regime. What is the opera? Hint

Life With an Idiot

A Love For Three Oranges

The Nose

The Gambler

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Question 6 of 10

6. Germany now: Paul Hindemith's opera "Neues vom Tage" created a scandal among opera-goers in Germany. The controversy revolved around which household item in the opera? Hint

Bathtub

Painting

Bed

Window

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these French composers made heavy use of numerology and birdsong in his music? Hint

Pierre Boulez

Olivier Messiaen

Alfred Roussel

Lili Boulanger

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Question 8 of 10

8. To the Island Kingdom now: Malcolm Arnold, a serious art music composer, dabbled at times in the world of film music. Which of the following World War II films has an Arnold score? Hint

Bridge On the River Kwai

The Guns of Navarrone

The Great Escape

Saving Private Ryan

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Question 9 of 10

9. Back across the pond to America! John Cage, the notorious experimentalist composer, is most famous for his composition, 4'33". How many movements does this all-silence piece have? Hint

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Question 10 of 10

10. Finally we return to our starting point, California. Which of the following films did John Williams NOT score? Hint

Titanic

Star Wars: Episode I

Hook

Jurassic Park

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. We'll start our trip around the world in California, USA. Which young composer wrote the opera "Dead Man Walking", based on the film of the same name?

Answer: Jake Heggie

Although harrowing, disturbing, and tragic, this opera has taken off with audiences since its premiere late in the last century and has put Heggie's name on the composition map.

2. Westward to China! Which of these contemporary composers is noted for his experimentation with multimedia and nonstandard instruments such as water and rocks in his compositions?

Answer: Tan Dun

Tan Dun has also transcribed traditional Chinese folk songs for solo piano.

3. To India, a nation with its own rich history of classical music. With whom has the sitar performer Ravi Shankar collaborated on several works?

Answer: Philip Glass

Ravi Shankar is known to pop music fans as the father of Norah Jones and as an occasional collaborator with the Beatles.

4. Next, we travel to Vienna: the center of European classical music! Of the three key members of the "second Viennese school", which wrote a piece dedicated "to the memory of an angel"?

Answer: Alban Berg

The piece is his violin concerto, full of secret numerological relationships and hidden meanings that were shared only between Berg and the dedicatee until after Berg's death.

5. Northward to Russia. Alfred Schnittke wrote a scathingly harsh opera commenting on the relationship between the Russian people and the Communist regime. What is the opera?

Answer: Life With an Idiot

Schnittke is also known for his symphonies, which include stage directions for the performers to leave and return to the stage during the piece.

6. Germany now: Paul Hindemith's opera "Neues vom Tage" created a scandal among opera-goers in Germany. The controversy revolved around which household item in the opera?

Answer: Bathtub

In today's world, an audience wouldn't blink twice at this scene, which caused an uproar.

7. Which of these French composers made heavy use of numerology and birdsong in his music?

Answer: Olivier Messiaen

Messiaen also spent some time imprisoned in a German camp during World War II. While there, he composed his famous "Quartet for the End of Time" for a group of fellow prisoners to perform.

8. To the Island Kingdom now: Malcolm Arnold, a serious art music composer, dabbled at times in the world of film music. Which of the following World War II films has an Arnold score?

Answer: Bridge On the River Kwai

Malcolm Arnold included the famous "Colonel Bogey March" (but not the bawdy lyrics) in his score for the American and British prisoners to whistle.

9. Back across the pond to America! John Cage, the notorious experimentalist composer, is most famous for his composition, 4'33". How many movements does this all-silence piece have?

Answer: 3

Although the premiere performance was on piano, the score indicates that it can be played by any number of performers on any group of instruments for any length of time.

10. Finally we return to our starting point, California. Which of the following films did John Williams NOT score?

Answer: Titanic

"Titanic" was scored by James Horner, another of America's great film composers. Welcome to the end of the journey, and happy traveling!

Source: Author PianoWilmer

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