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Quiz about Claude Debussy Life and Works

Claude Debussy - Life and Works Quiz

This is a quiz on the life and works of Claude Debussy (1862-1918), one of the greatest of French composers.

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

Author
askpau

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
158,951

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
845

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Debussy was born on August 22, 1862 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, on the outskirts of which French city? Hint

Lyons

Paris

Marseilles

Orleans

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Question 2 of 10

2. One of Debussy's earliest piano teachers was Madame Antoinette Maute. What famous French poet, who wrote "Fetes Galantes", was Madame Maute's son-in-law? Hint

Stephane Mallarme

Arthur Rimbaud

Paul Verlaine

Charles Baudelaire

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Question 3 of 10

3. From 1880-1882, Debussy was employed by Madame Nadezhda von Meck. Madame von Meck was the patroness of which famous Russian composer? Hint

Mussorgsky

Stravinsky

Borodin

Tchaikovsky

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 1893, Debussy completed his orchestral work "Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune". Who wrote the poem on which this work was based? Hint

Stephane Mallarme

Arthur Rimbaud

Paul Verlaine

Charles Baudelaire

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of the following piano works does the famous "Clair de Lune" form part of? Hint

Images

Estampes

Suite Bergamasque

Children's Corner

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Question 6 of 10

6. The premiere of Debussy's only completed opera took place in 1902. What is the name of the opera? Hint

Pelleas et Melisande

Lulu

Faust

Samson et Dalila

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who wrote the play on which Debussy's opera was based? Hint

Maurice Maeterlinck

Victor Hugo

Moliere

Emile Zola

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1889, Debussy had the opportunity to hear Javanese gamelan music at the World Exposition in Paris. Which of the following piano works reflects that experience? Hint

L'Isle Joyeuse

Clair de Lune

Golliwog's Cakewalk

Pagodes

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following is NOT an orchestral composition by Debussy? Hint

Nocturnes

La Mer

La Valse

Iberia

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following terms (borrowed from art) is often used to describe Debussy's music? Hint

Fauvist

Impressionist

Cubist

Surrealist

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Debussy was born on August 22, 1862 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, on the outskirts of which French city?

Answer: Paris

St-Germain-en-Laye is west of Paris. Debussy's parents owned a china shop.

2. One of Debussy's earliest piano teachers was Madame Antoinette Maute. What famous French poet, who wrote "Fetes Galantes", was Madame Maute's son-in-law?

Answer: Paul Verlaine

Verlaine married Mathilde Maute in 1870. Their marriage broke up when Verlaine commenced a turbulent affair with Arthur Rimbaud.

3. From 1880-1882, Debussy was employed by Madame Nadezhda von Meck. Madame von Meck was the patroness of which famous Russian composer?

Answer: Tchaikovsky

Debussy taught piano to Madame von Meck's children and accompanied the family on trips to Italy, Austria, and Russia. Although Madame von Meck was a great admirer of Tchaikovsky, they never met in person!

4. In 1893, Debussy completed his orchestral work "Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune". Who wrote the poem on which this work was based?

Answer: Stephane Mallarme

Mallarme was a leader of the Symbolist movement in literature.

5. Which of the following piano works does the famous "Clair de Lune" form part of?

Answer: Suite Bergamasque

"Clair de Lune" is the third movement of the "Suite Bergamasque".

6. The premiere of Debussy's only completed opera took place in 1902. What is the name of the opera?

Answer: Pelleas et Melisande

"Pelleas et Melisande" was Debussy's only opera. "Lulu" is by Alban Berg, "Samson et Dalila" by Camille Saint-Saens, and "Faust" by Charles Gounod.

7. Who wrote the play on which Debussy's opera was based?

Answer: Maurice Maeterlinck

While Maeterlinck readily gave Debussy permission to convert "Pelleas" into an opera, their relationship deteriorated to the point where Maeterlinck wrote an open letter denouncing Debussy and hoping for the opera's failure!

8. In 1889, Debussy had the opportunity to hear Javanese gamelan music at the World Exposition in Paris. Which of the following piano works reflects that experience?

Answer: Pagodes

Pagodes, the first piece of "Estampes" (1903), uses the "oriental-sounding" pentatonic scale.

9. Which of the following is NOT an orchestral composition by Debussy?

Answer: La Valse

"La Valse" is by Maurice Ravel.

10. Which of the following terms (borrowed from art) is often used to describe Debussy's music?

Answer: Impressionist

Debussy himself did not use the word impressionist to describe his own music.

Source: Author askpau

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