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Quiz about Classical Woodwind Instruments

Classical Woodwind Instruments Quiz

A quiz about the different instruments of the best section in the orchestra: the woodwinds!

A multiple-choice quiz by daniel_cueto. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
daniel_cueto

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
99,866

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1135

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the definition of a woodwind instrument? Hint

A wind instrument with a long, slim body covered by a mechanism of keys or rings

A wind instrument in which pitch is altered by covering or uncovering holes (usually with keys) along its length.

A wind instrument made of wood, plastic, or silver, but never of brass

A wind instrument which is always made of wood.

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Question 2 of 10

2. What instruments does a woodwind quintet commonly have? Hint

Flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon

Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn

2 flutes, 2 clarinets, bassoon

flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, horn

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these composers never composed anything for woodwind quintet? Hint

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Gabriel Faure

Gustav Holst

Samuel Barber

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Question 4 of 10

4. True or false: Bach composed two concertos for flute and one for clarinet.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Why is the seating distribution of the woodwinds in the orchestra like it is? (flutes and oboes in front, clarinets and bassoons in the back) Hint

if the bassoons were in the front, they would block the vision of the other woodwind players

because the flutes and oboes are the more important members of the section and have to be in close eye contact with the conductor

because the flute and oboe are the soprano voices of the section, and the clarinet and bassoon are the alto and tenor-bass voices

the clarinet and bassoon have a more resonant sound and must be seated further back in order to have the section balanced in pitch and volume

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the woodwinds has the smallest range in octaves? Hint

bassoon

clarinet

oboe

flute

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these works wasn't composed by Beethoven? Hint

Sonata for three flutes

Sonata for 2 oboes and bassoon

Sonata for flute, bassoon and piano

Sonatas for clarinet and bassoon

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Question 8 of 10

8. In Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring", which instrument has a solo right after the bassoon solo at the beginning? Hint

alto flute

piccolo clarinet

English horn

oboe

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these is not a jazz bassoonist? Hint

Klaus Thunemann

Michael Rabinowitz

Daniel Smith

Paul Hanson

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Question 10 of 10

10. According to the popular joke, what are two oboes playing in unison? :D Hint

a minor second

a duck massacre

a duet

a joke!

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the definition of a woodwind instrument?

Answer: A wind instrument in which pitch is altered by covering or uncovering holes (usually with keys) along its length.

Woodwind instruments can be made of wood, metal (like saxophones or flutes) as well as of ceramics or plastic. The tone holes may be covered and uncovered by keys, or by the players' fingers.

2. What instruments does a woodwind quintet commonly have?

Answer: Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn

The horn is a part of the woodwind quintet because of its fantastic ability to blend in perfectly with the sounds of the woodwind instruments. The woodwind quintet is a popular chamber music grouping that lacks the unity of tone color that the string quartet posseses, but instead offers the composer a variety of contrasting tone colors to play with.

3. Which of these composers never composed anything for woodwind quintet?

Answer: Gabriel Faure

He missed out on it!

4. True or false: Bach composed two concertos for flute and one for clarinet.

Answer: False

Single reeded instruments (like the clarinet) weren't used in art music in the Baroque period, because they were so associated with European folk music that they hadn't fully been accepted in the world of art music yet. This is why Bach, a Baroque composer, never composed anything for clarinet.

5. Why is the seating distribution of the woodwinds in the orchestra like it is? (flutes and oboes in front, clarinets and bassoons in the back)

Answer: because the flute and oboe are the soprano voices of the section, and the clarinet and bassoon are the alto and tenor-bass voices

The flute and oboe are usually the soloists, while the clarinet and bassoon usually do the harmonies.

6. Which of the woodwinds has the smallest range in octaves?

Answer: oboe

Yes, it's a somewhat limited instrument. It's very beautiful, however.

7. Which of these works wasn't composed by Beethoven?

Answer: Sonata for 2 oboes and bassoon

The one for flute, bassoon, and piano is very beautiful! You should listen to it.

8. In Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring", which instrument has a solo right after the bassoon solo at the beginning?

Answer: English horn

That opening movement is incredible. It makes you think of prehistoric beings (represented by the different solo instruments) bursting into life, popping out of eggs or out of the earth. It is a fascinating beginning for this work.

9. Which of these is not a jazz bassoonist?

Answer: Klaus Thunemann

Klaus Thunemann only plays classical bassoon (he is superb). The other three have very interesting experiments and are worth listening to.

10. According to the popular joke, what are two oboes playing in unison? :D

Answer: a minor second

Here's another one:
-What do a family reunion and an oboe solo have in common?
You know they are both coming and there is not a darn thing you can
do about it!

Hehe... did you enjoy the quiz? :D

Source: Author daniel_cueto

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