Composers' First Names Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wolfgang

Mozart was a child prodigy and his father toured all over Europe with him playing the piano at royal courts. As an adult Mozart travelled to many different parts of Europe but settled in Vienna where he was at first a freelance composer and later was appointed by Emperor Joseph to be his composer of chamber music.

Answer: Franz

As well as a composer Franz Liszt was a very talented and popular pianist. Scenes at his concerts were similar to those at the Beatles shows in the 1960s, with women fainting and trying to get on the stage.

Answer: Aaron

Aaron Copeland was an American composer, teacher, and conductor. His music is often said to be the voice of American music as it conjures up vast open spaces. He was referred to as the 'Dean of America' by his fellow composers and critics.

Answer: Maurice

Ravel was a French twentieth century composer. His best known works are 'Daphnis and Chloe', and 'Bolero' which is now associated with the ice skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

Answer: Benjamin

Benjamin Britten was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England and he loved the area and stayed there for most of his life. His best known work was probably the opera 'Peter Grimes' which is about a fisherman whose apprentice dies at sea. Although he is cleared of blame by the coroner the townspeople still think that he killed the boy.

Answer: Francis

Francis Poulenc was a French composer who was active in many fields. He composed opera, ballet and choral music as well as piano and concert pieces. One of his best known works is the ballet 'Les Biches', choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska, sister of Vaslav Nijinsky.

Answer: Johann Sebastian

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 into a family of musicians in Eisenach, Germany. Bach is widely considered one of the greatest musicians and composed orchestral music such as the 'Brandenburg Concertos' as well as 'The Saint Matthew Passion' and his Mass in B Minor.

Answer: Henry

Henry Purcell was an English composer born in London in 1659. He composed for many different fields including opera, church music and music for the court. He is best remembered for his operas 'Dido and Aeneas' and 'The Fairy-Queen', and his music for the funeral of Queen Mary who had reigned jointly with her husband William of Orange.

Answer: Leonard

Leonard Bernstein was an American composer born in 1918. He was the musical director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra for many years. He is best remembered for his musical 'West Side Story' on which he collaborated with Stephen Sondheim who wrote the lyrics.

Answer: Ludwig

Beethoven was a very prolific composer. His works included nine symphonies, five piano concertos, one violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, a mass, the 'Missa Solemnis' and an opera 'Fidelio.' As is well known, Beethoven was deaf in later years; the exact cause of his deafness is unknown.

Theories have ranged from syphilis to the composer's habit of dunking his head in cold water whenever he was tired.