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Quiz about 20th Century Music Around the World 2
Quiz about 20th Century Music Around the World 2

20th Century Music Around the World [2] Quiz

Another quiz in which we will take a trip around the world, looking at the music of important 20th century composers. Bon voyage!

A multiple-choice quiz by PianoWilmer. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
PianoWilmer
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
178,924
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
600
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. We'll start our worldwide journey in South America. Argentinian composer Astor Piazzola is famous for bringing which dance style into classical music? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. On to our next destination, China. The opera "Nixon In China" is written in which 20th-century style? Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. Upward to Russia. Excluding his famous "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini", how many piano concerti did Sergei Rachmaninoff write? Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. South now, to sunny Italy. Giacomo Puccini, certainly one of the greatest opera composers of all time, wrote all of these operas except one. Which is not by Puccini? Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. We'll cross the Alps into eastern Europe now. Zoltan Kodaly wrote an opera, and a more famous suite of music, based on the Hungarian legend of Hary Janos. According to tradition, this gesture--which appears in musical form at the opening of the suite--confirms that the storyteller is not lying. What is the gesture? Hint


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Question 6 of 10
6. Scandinavian composers are known for writing patriotic and nationalistic music. Jean Sibelius, best known for his tone poem "Finlandia", also wrote which of the following tone poems? Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. 20th-century British composers loved to use music from other British composers written during the 1600's. Ralph Vaughan William's "Fantasy on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" is scored for which group of instruments? Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. Before we hop across the sea: Which French composer wrote a piece called "The Sea" (or "La Mer" in French)? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. To New York City, the center of popular musical life during the first half of the 20th century. Leonard Bernstein, well known for his Broadway shows, wrote which of the following operas? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. Across to the other shining sea and California. What Austrian composer moved to Hollywood and wrote the film scores for "The Prince and the Pauper", "The Sea Hawk", and "The Adventures of Robin Hood", among many others? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. We'll start our worldwide journey in South America. Argentinian composer Astor Piazzola is famous for bringing which dance style into classical music?

Answer: Tango

 Piazzola's use of the tango in his compositions was similar to Gershwin's use of jazz.
2. On to our next destination, China. The opera "Nixon In China" is written in which 20th-century style?

Answer: Minimalist

 Like his other opera "The Death of Klinghoffer", John Adams wrote "Nixon In China" based on current events of his time.
3. Upward to Russia. Excluding his famous "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini", how many piano concerti did Sergei Rachmaninoff write?

Answer: 4

 The second concerto, by far the most famous, was written after Rachmaninoff's recovery from an abysmal depression.
4. South now, to sunny Italy. Giacomo Puccini, certainly one of the greatest opera composers of all time, wrote all of these operas except one. Which is not by Puccini?

Answer: I Pagliacci

 "I Pagliacci" is by another Italian, Ruggero Leoncavallo. Its tragic libretto, though, is right in line with many of Puccini's!
5. We'll cross the Alps into eastern Europe now. Zoltan Kodaly wrote an opera, and a more famous suite of music, based on the Hungarian legend of Hary Janos. According to tradition, this gesture--which appears in musical form at the opening of the suite--confirms that the storyteller is not lying. What is the gesture?

Answer: Sneeze

 This is, quite possibly, the only "musical sneeze" in all of classical music!
6. Scandinavian composers are known for writing patriotic and nationalistic music. Jean Sibelius, best known for his tone poem "Finlandia", also wrote which of the following tone poems?

Answer: The Swan of Tuonela

 "The Preludes" is by Franz Liszt; "A Hero's Life" is by Richard Strauss, and "The Moldau" is one of a set of tone poems by Beidrich Smetana.
7. 20th-century British composers loved to use music from other British composers written during the 1600's. Ralph Vaughan William's "Fantasy on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" is scored for which group of instruments?

Answer: Strings

 And a lot of them, too. The piece calls for two sets of strings, plus a string quartet.
8. Before we hop across the sea: Which French composer wrote a piece called "The Sea" (or "La Mer" in French)?

Answer: Claude Debussy

 The piece is divided into three movements: Morning, Noon, and Evening. Fellow composer Eric Satie once joked to Debussy, "I particularly enjoyed the moment at about half past eleven."
9. To New York City, the center of popular musical life during the first half of the 20th century. Leonard Bernstein, well known for his Broadway shows, wrote which of the following operas?

Answer: Trouble In Tahiti

 "Porgy and Bess" is by George Gershwin, "Four Saints in Three Acts" is by Virgil Thompson, and "Treemonisha" is by Scott Joplin--a ragtime opera!
10. Across to the other shining sea and California. What Austrian composer moved to Hollywood and wrote the film scores for "The Prince and the Pauper", "The Sea Hawk", and "The Adventures of Robin Hood", among many others?

Answer: Erich Korngold

 Korngold's violin concerto uses themes from several of his film scores. One critic commented that the concerto is "more Korn than gold"!
Source: Author PianoWilmer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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Referenced Topics
Music   World   European Geography   South American Geography   Classical Music   French Language   Opera   New York   Italy Geography   Jazz   California   New York City   Italian Language   China   Dance Music   Strings   Composers   Twentieth-Century Classical Music   Keyboards   Violin  

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