Crank it Up a Notch Trivia Quiz

Answer: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

The Toccata and Fugue in D Minor is one of those pieces where "you'll know it when you hear it", as it's constantly used to introduce spooky subjects. Curiously, modern scholarship now questions whether it was indeed written by Bach. But no matter who the author was, it's one of the most famous (and loud) pieces in Western classical music.

Answer: The Rite of Spring

The ballet "The Rite of Spring" is the story of a tribe of natives performing their traditional spring rite of sacrificing one of the village maidens to the gods for good fortune, so Stravinsky tried to evoke more primitive, visceral feelings with his music.

When faced with the unusual tonalities and savage rhythms composed by Stravinsky, the audience couldn't take it and brawls broke out. After over 40 people were evicted, the performance went on, and Stravinsky became an idol among his contemporaries for completely reshaping the tonal palette of classical music.

Answer: Carmina Burana

Although the opening and finish of the opening song, "O Fortuna", are most commonly played, if you haven't heard it before, it's worth taking the three minutes to listen to it in its entirety so you can appreciate the progression of the music from soft to loud to ear-splitting.

The other songs in the cycle are quite bawdy, with explicit references to drinking, carousing, and promiscuity. This is not your grandfather's classical music!

Answer: Beethoven's Ninth

His magnum opus (Latin for "great work", usually used to mean a composer's greatest work), Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 is regarded as one of the pinnacles of Western classical music. Beethoven was completely deaf at the time he composed it. Apparently, when he conducted the premiere, the audience gave him five standing ovations and someone had to turn Beethoven around since he couldn't hear them.

Answer: Gotterdammerung

If you know your German, you probably could guess the answer: "Gotterdammerung" stands for "Twilight of the Gods". The four operas of the "Ring Cycle" draw upon similar myths used by J.R.R. Tolkien for his "Lord of the Rings" books. Both feature a cursed ring of great power on whose ownership depends the fate of the world.

The final minutes of the opera, which are the culmination of over 14 hours of music, feature Brunnhilde (the so-called "fat lady" of "it ain't over until the fat lady sings") singing her song of love and doom before riding into a funeral pyre.

Answer: Romeo and Juliet

Naturally, the two factions are the Montagues and the Capulets, the families of the "star-crossed lovers" in what is probably the most famous love story in Western literature. The music is played shortly before Romeo and Juliet see each other for the first time and fall in love. Now, you can hear it in perfume and car commercials.

Answer: Anton Bruckner

Bruckner is not as well-known as many of the other composers in this quiz, but his symphonies are massive works that eventually build to a grand spectacle. One of my favorite stories of Bruckner is that he wanted to dedicate his last symphony to Beethoven, his great inspiration in music.

When he realized he wasn't going to finish and that the work would be flawed, he instead re-dedicated it to God (his other great inspiration).

Answer: Johannes Brahms

Brahms was seen by many as the musical genius that would carry on the traditions of Beethoven, and the weight of those expectations weighed heavily upon him. His initial attempts at a first symphony eventually became his first piano concerto. Finally, at the age of 43, he finally was able to compose his first symphony. (For some perspective, both Mozart and Schubert died in their thirties). Often called "Beethoven's Tenth", it is a great symphony in its own right.

Answer: Resurrection

Taking over an hour to play, the "Resurrection" Symphony depicts the end of the world, and the resurrection of everyone afterwards, hence the nickname. After an hour of doom and gloom, the final few minutes, which feature a full chorus along with the orchestra, are probably amongst the loudest and most inspiring passages in all music.

Answer: The 1812 Overture

The overture is a celebration of the Battle of Borodino in 1812, featuring the Russian armies defending their homeland against Napoleon. Although Napoleon actually held the field, the Russian army was able to retreat in good order and lured Napoleon further into the Russian countryside, causing most of his under-supplied and ill-equipped army to freeze to death.

You can hear the cannons fire in the final minute or two of most recordings.
Due to the danger involved, the piece is not often performed with live cannon, but a few performances do feature them.