Classical Music--Symphonic Nicknames Quiz

Answer: Franz Schubert

Interestingly, this was also called Symphony No. 7 in an earlier numbering system. But there is no mistaking the 'Great' C-Major because of its majesty and length.

Answer: Antonin Dvorak

Dvorak toured America in the 1890's and also produced String Quartet in F-Major called 'The American'.

Answer: Ludwig Van Beethoven

Beethoven himself named this 'The Pastoral' and each movement is given an explanatory title, e.g. (1) Awakening of Cheerful Impressions on Arrival in the Country.

Answer: Camille Saint-Saens

One listening will tell you why this is called 'The Organ' symphony. And there have never been any apologies from Babe for pirating the melody from the final movement. Oh Well!!

Answer: Felix Mendelssohn

After composing Symphony No. 3, 'The Scottish', and Symphony No. 4,'The Italian', I suppose Felix thought a change of pace was in order. Actually No. 5 (1832) was written before No. 4 (1833)--go figure !!

Answer: W. A. Mozart

I could have said Symphony No. 41 (K.551)--but that would have given it away for sure. It was Mozart's last symphony and has a 'Grand Slam' final movement.

Answer: Serge Prokofiev

A 20th century composer, Prokofiev in his 1st Symphony attempted to (in his own words) '..catch the spirit of Mozart and put down that which, if he were living now, Mozart might put into his scores.'

Answer: Anton Bruckner

Bruckner re-wrote this one three times and finally got it right in 1896. He named this one 'Romantic' at the urging of his friends and apparently for no other reason.

Answer: Robert Schumann

Schuman wrote, '...The sketch of the entire Symphony was completed in four days. Exhaustion followed after many sleepless nights.' (And then he went on to write three more symphonies and a bunch of other stuff--WOW!!)

Answer: Franz Joseph Haydn

No. 94 is a dead give away. Haydn has 104 symphonies attributed to him and a lot of them have been given names, e.g. 'Farewell', 'Miracle', 'Military', 'Clock'. To say that Haydn was prolific would be an understatement !!

Answer: Gustav Mahler

Mahler himself called this symphony 'Resurrection'. He ascribes deep, mystical meaning to this work. Albert Einstein (yes, that Albert Einstein) wrote of Mahler, 'His music, torn between ecstasy and despair, faithfully reflects the inner dissonance of the times...' Heavy going but, then, it is all relative....

Answer: Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

A very moody piece, indeed. Atypically, it ends on a 'downer' of a slow, lugubrious movement. Suggested antidote: the final movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 or a John Phillip Sousa march--same difference !!

Answer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams, an Englishman, composed a symphony titled 'London'! How radical is that ?!! However, don't confuse this with Haydn's 'London Symphony' No. 104 in D. Also, Haydn composed two sets of six works later in his life after visits to London. These are called 'The London Symphonies'.

Answer: Gustav Mahler

More Mahler !! (See Question and Answer No. 11--Mahler hasn't changed since you answered that one !!)

Answer: Ludwig Van Beethoven

This one had to be a 'slam dunk'. Legend has it that, when he heard that Napoleon accepted a crown, Beethoven in anger ripped up the orginal title page which he dedicated to Napoleon. Beethoven then re-wrote the dedication 'To the Memory of a Great Man'. (And--No, Marcia Funebre is not the name of Beethoven's girlfriend. It is the title of the 2nd Movement !!)