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Flanders and Swann Trivia Quiz

Michael Flanders and Donald Swann were a British musical comedy team who performed their works in London and on Broadway, as well as recording several albums. Here are some questions about their songs and routines.

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

Author
ertrum

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
171,298

Updated
May 16 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
579

Last 3 plays: lones78 (9/10), PosterMeerkat (10/10), Guest 217 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. First, according to Michael Flanders, where does the Rain in Spain stay? Hint

In my house.

In the plain.

Almost invariably in the hills.

In Portugal.

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Question 2 of 10

2. What do Flanders and Swann have in common with the Beatles? Hint

They had the same record producer, George Martin.

They both recorded versions of "Till There Was You".

They had the same business manager, Brian Epstein.

They both founded record labels.

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Question 3 of 10

3. Flanders and Swann wrote "Ill Wind", about the narrator's attempts to learn to play the french horn. What music did they use to set the words? Hint

Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite"

Pulcinella Suite

"The Nutcracker Suite"

Mozart's fourth horn concerto

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who is the nicest work of nature in the zoo? Hint

The Hippo

The Gnu

The Aardvark

The Antelope

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was "Tried by the Centre Court"? Hint

A tennis umpire

A drunken singer

A piano player

A bullfighter

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Question 6 of 10

6. In "Sounding Brass", what is "more fun than playing polo with the Duke?" Hint

Playing on the status symbols

Driving a London bus

Playing in glorious mud

Riding in a boat

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Question 7 of 10

7. Flanders and Swann called their first show "At the Drop of a Hat". What did they call their second show? Hint

The Bestiary of Flanders and Swann

Hats Off

Flanders and Swann's Gnu Review

At the Drop of Another Hat

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Question 8 of 10

8. Michael Flanders wrote the music for the duo's songs.

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. In which language did Swann write "In the Desert"? Hint

French

Arabic

Russian

Greek

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who sings about "Mud, mud, glorious mud, Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood!" Hint

The Crocodile

The Hippo

The Otter

The Turtle

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 13 2024 : lones78: 9/10
Nov 10 2024 : PosterMeerkat: 10/10
Nov 06 2024 : Guest 217: 10/10
Oct 29 2024 : pennie1478: 8/10
Oct 12 2024 : mfc: 9/10
Oct 12 2024 : carolmitch: 6/10
Oct 09 2024 : mcdubb: 10/10
Oct 07 2024 : Winegirl718: 6/10
Oct 02 2024 : bg853: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. First, according to Michael Flanders, where does the Rain in Spain stay?

Answer: Almost invariably in the hills.

"My Fair Lady" was still a smash hit on stage when Flanders and Swann recorded "At the Drop of a Hat" in 1959.

2. What do Flanders and Swann have in common with the Beatles?

Answer: They had the same record producer, George Martin.

George Martin recorded "At the Drop of a Hat" in 1959, several years before he started recording the Beatles.

3. Flanders and Swann wrote "Ill Wind", about the narrator's attempts to learn to play the french horn. What music did they use to set the words?

Answer: Mozart's fourth horn concerto

They used the rondo, including cadenzas. The song begins
"I once had a whim, and I had to obey it, to buy a french horn in a second hand shop".

It's on the "At the Drop of Another Hat" album.

4. Who is the nicest work of nature in the zoo?

Answer: The Gnu

"I'm a gnu, spelled g n u. The (g)nicest work of (g)nature in the zoo." From "At the Drop of a Hat".

5. Who was "Tried by the Centre Court"?

Answer: A tennis umpire

"The British Umpire, on whom the sun never sets."

6. In "Sounding Brass", what is "more fun than playing polo with the Duke?"

Answer: Playing on the status symbols

"The object is to Gunga-Din your neighbor.
'I'm a better man than you's the acid test.
So man the good ship one-up
Let's do a social ton-up
And bang our status symbols with the best."

From "At the Drop of Another Hat"

7. Flanders and Swann called their first show "At the Drop of a Hat". What did they call their second show?

Answer: At the Drop of Another Hat

"At the Drop of Another Hat" opened in 1963, three years after "At the Drop of a Hat" closed.

8. Michael Flanders wrote the music for the duo's songs.

Answer: False

"I write the words, Donald here writes the music." Flanders was the main spokesman for the pair when they were on stage, with Swann as the straight man (and butt of many Flanders one liners).

9. In which language did Swann write "In the Desert"?

Answer: Russian

Swann also wrote one verse of the Hippo song in Russian. He was a skilled Russian translator, and wrote an English translation of "Peter and the Wolf".

10. Who sings about "Mud, mud, glorious mud, Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood!"

Answer: The Hippo

In the second show, the hippo has married, and his whole family -- played by the audience -- join in the song.

Source: Author ertrum

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ltc717 before going online.
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