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Quiz about Beethovens Life Times and Works

Beethoven's Life, Times and Works Quiz

Here is a 20 question quiz about Ludwig van Beethoven, his life, times and works. I hope this is enjoyable and educational. Feedback and-or corrections are welcome!

A multiple-choice quiz by Pat6789. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Pat6789

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
1,796

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
13 / 20

Plays
4627

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. In what year was Beethoven born? Hint

1750

1780

1760

1770

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Question 2 of 20

2. True or False: Beethoven was born into a musical family.

True

False

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Question 3 of 20

3. True or False: Beethoven's father was a sober, loving, and nurturing man who lavished praise on Ludwig for his musical talent.

True

False

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Question 4 of 20

4. Though contemporaries, Mozart (1756-1791) and Beethoven (1770-1827) never crossed paths. Hint

Mozart wanted to meet Beethoven, but circumstances made it impossible

It is unclear whether they ever met

They met several times and maintained a correspondence for a few years

Mozart refused to meet Beethoven

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Question 5 of 20

5. True or False: Though contemporaries, Haydn (1732 - 1809) and Beethoven never met.

True

False

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Question 6 of 20

6. Beethoven dedicated one of his early piano sonatas (Op.53, No.21 in C) to one of his patrons in Bonn. It is named The_________ Sonata. Hint

Maria Theresa

Maximillian

Waldstein

Hapsburg

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Question 7 of 20

7. True or False: In his 20's, Beethoven cut a handsome figure in Viennese society.

True

False

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Question 8 of 20

8. Beethoven suffered from: Hint

Deafness

Schizophrenia

Blindness

Seizures

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Question 9 of 20

9. Beethoven wrote of his ailment in a document called: Hint

Heiligenstadt Testament

Composition and Crisis

VonMeunchausen Manuscript

To My Immortal Beloved

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Question 10 of 20

10. Which of these events did NOT occur during Beethoven's lifetime: ? Hint

Catherine 'The Great' reigns as Czarina of Russia

Napoleon reigns as Emperor of France

Victoria reigns as Queen of England

George Washington serves as First U.S. President

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Question 11 of 20

11. Beethoven wrote how many symphonies? Hint

Seven

Three

Nine

Five

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Question 12 of 20

12. Beethoven wrote how many Piano Concertos? Hint

Five

Three

Two

Four

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Question 13 of 20

13. Beethoven wrote how many Violin Concertos? Hint

Two

Four

Three

One

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Question 14 of 20

14. Beethoven wrote how many Operas? Hint

Two

One

Three

Four

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Question 15 of 20

15. Three of Beethoven's more popular Piano Sonatas are named? Hint

Moonlight, Starlight, Candlelight

Moonlight, Mystique, Magnifique

Appassionata, Moonlight, Pathetique

Pathetique, Fantastique,Boutique

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Question 16 of 20

16. Beethoven's 'Choral' Symphony's final movement consists of the poem 'Ode to Joy' set to music. Who is the author of 'Ode to Joy'? Hint

Luther

Goethe

Schiller

Dante

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Question 17 of 20

17. Beethoven never married but he had an 'Immortal Beloved' in his life. Who was Beethoven's 'Immortal Beloved'? Hint

Josephine von Brunsvik

Nobody knows for sure

Countess Giulietta Guicciardi

Therese Malfatti

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Question 18 of 20

18. Later in life, Beethoven wound up embroiled in a family dispute concerning the care and support of which relative? Hint

His Sister

His Niece

His Brother

His Nephew

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Question 19 of 20

19. Beethoven's death is commonly attributed to: Hint

Pneumonia

Stroke

Cancer

Fall from a carriage

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Question 20 of 20

20. Beethoven is reported to have died during ___________. Hint

A Thunder Storm

A Military Occupation of Vienna

A Performance of his 9th Symphony

An Argument with His Nephew Karl

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year was Beethoven born?

Answer: 1770

December 16, 1770, in Bonn, in what is now Germany.

2. True or False: Beethoven was born into a musical family.

Answer: True

Beethoven's grandfather (also Ludwig) was a trained musician who became Kappelmeister in the electoral chapel in Bonn. Beethoven's father (Johann) was a singer and a teacher of piano and violin.

3. True or False: Beethoven's father was a sober, loving, and nurturing man who lavished praise on Ludwig for his musical talent.

Answer: False

Beethoven's biographers characterize Johann van Beethoven as being a tyrannical, alcoholic and violent man who forced the young Beethoven to study the piano at age four.

4. Though contemporaries, Mozart (1756-1791) and Beethoven (1770-1827) never crossed paths.

Answer: It is unclear whether they ever met

One story goes that Beethoven made a trip to Vienna in 1787 where Mozart heard Beethoven play the piano. Mozart is reported to have said, 'Watch this young man; he will yet make a noise in the world.' There are other indications from various biographers that they possibly met.

However, there is nothing that could be considered proof that they ever met at all - no substantiated contemporary evidence. Chances are fairly good, though, that Beethoven saw Mozart play on his 1787 trip to Vienna - he was a great admirer of Mozart, and Mozart was definitely in the city and playing at that time. even that, though is no more than a guess.

5. True or False: Though contemporaries, Haydn (1732 - 1809) and Beethoven never met.

Answer: False

Beethoven studied composition with Haydn in Vienna. Among others, Beethoven also knew composers Franz Schubert, and Antonio Salieri.

6. Beethoven dedicated one of his early piano sonatas (Op.53, No.21 in C) to one of his patrons in Bonn. It is named The_________ Sonata.

Answer: Waldstein

It was named after Count Ferdinand von Waldstein a musician who was a friend of the elector Maximillian Francis.

7. True or False: In his 20's, Beethoven cut a handsome figure in Viennese society.

Answer: False

Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792. He was described as being short, stocky, dark-complected, and pockmarked, with a broad nose, and deepset eyes. Beethoven is on record as knowing about his less than heroic appearance.

8. Beethoven suffered from:

Answer: Deafness

Beethoven became progressively deaf, beginning at about age 26 (1796), finally losing his hearing entirely in 1815. His hearing loss is thought to have been caused by otosclerosis--progressive ossification of the bony structures in the inner ear.

9. Beethoven wrote of his ailment in a document called:

Answer: Heiligenstadt Testament

In 1802, he expressed his feelings about his hearing problems in a will-like document to his two brothers, known as the 'Heliegenstadt Testament'.

10. Which of these events did NOT occur during Beethoven's lifetime: ?

Answer: Victoria reigns as Queen of England

Beethoven lived from 1770 to 1827, Victoria did not assume the throne as the Queen of England until 1837.

11. Beethoven wrote how many symphonies?

Answer: Nine

Nine. Interestingly, though all of the symphonies are often performed today, the odd numbers (3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th) are the more popular ones. But the 6th, The Pastoral, is also very well known.

12. Beethoven wrote how many Piano Concertos?

Answer: Five

Five Piano Concertos. (O.K., for you purists, 'Concerti') Number 5, 'The Emperor', is probably the best known.

13. Beethoven wrote how many Violin Concertos?

Answer: One

One. Violin Concerto in D.

14. Beethoven wrote how many Operas?

Answer: One

One Opera, Fidelio(written 1805, revised 1806 and 1814), the basic plot is a faithful wife rescues her husband who is being held as a political prisoner. Originally titled Lenore, Beethoven composed four overtures for it, Lenore No.1, No.2, and No.3, and Fidelio.

15. Three of Beethoven's more popular Piano Sonatas are named?

Answer: Appassionata, Moonlight, Pathetique

No. 8 in C-Minor (Pathetique), No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor (Moonlight) and No. 23 in F-Minor (Appassionata).

16. Beethoven's 'Choral' Symphony's final movement consists of the poem 'Ode to Joy' set to music. Who is the author of 'Ode to Joy'?

Answer: Schiller

Friedrich Schiller wrote 'Ode to Joy'. Symphony No. 9, in D-Minor, was Beethoven's last and it was a revolutionary departure from other symphonic forms up to that time, mainly because of the final choral movement.

17. Beethoven never married but he had an 'Immortal Beloved' in his life. Who was Beethoven's 'Immortal Beloved'?

Answer: Nobody knows for sure

This is one of the most enduring mysteries of art, music and literature. A lot has been written that implicates all three of the women mentioned but there appears to be no definitive evidence of the identity of the 'Immortal Beloved'. Some think that it was Bettina Brentano.

She ended up marrying Achim von Arnim during Beethoven's lifetime, and she had a daughter named Gisela. (Arpeggionist) Maynard Solomon has recently argued that the Immortal Beloved was Bettina's half-sister Antonie. (Thanks to MarathonLover)

18. Later in life, Beethoven wound up embroiled in a family dispute concerning the care and support of which relative?

Answer: His Nephew

Beethoven's brother Carl died in 1815, leaving care of his son Karl to Beethoven. Litigation with Beethoven's sister-in-law followed out of which Beethoven gained custody of the child. Beethoven's nephew turned out to be a wastrel and a gambler despite all of the care and devotion Beethoven lavished upon him.

19. Beethoven's death is commonly attributed to:

Answer: Pneumonia

Beethoven died of pleurisy complicated by dropsy and jaundice. Modern science has indicated that many of his illnesses -- and possible his death -- were due to chronic lead poisoning.

20. Beethoven is reported to have died during ___________.

Answer: A Thunder Storm

Beethoven died on March 26, 1827. Some versions have it that Beethoven died while shaking his fist at a raging thunderstorm.

Source: Author Pat6789

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