I Also Composed This Trivia Quiz

Answer: Petrushka

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) was born near St. Petersburg and later resided in Switzerland, France, and the United States. His first successes were compositions for the Russian ballets "Firebird", "Petrushka" and "The Rite of Spring".

He followed with a neoclassical period, noted for "Persephone", "Orpheus", and "The Rake's Progress". Later he was one of the most influential 20th century musical composer and a pivotal figure in the modernist movement.

Answer: Porgy and Bess

George Gershwin (1898-1937) was an American pianist and composer of jazz, musical, and classical works. He began his career in the New York City musical district known as Tin Pan Alley and had his first major song writing success with the song "Swanee".

His most famous work, "Rhapsody in Blue", was written in 1924 at the age of 26. He followed this with "An American in Paris", which became a standard orchestral work after initial mixed reviews. He and his brother Ira then created the classic Broadway show "Girl Crazy", which included the songs "I've Got Rhythm" and "Embraceable You". Soon afterwards he adapted the DuBose Heyward novel "Porgy" into the musical/opera "Porgy and Bess".

Gershwin developed a brain tumor and died at age 38 after an operation to remove it.

Answer: Fidelio

Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) is one of the most important composers of Western classical musical. He was born in Bonn, but spent most of his life in Vienna, His works span multiple genres of music, including symphonies, chamber music, operas, works for single instruments, and vocal music.

"Fidelio" is his only opera, which as translated was originally entitled "Leonore or the Triumph of Marital Love". It told the story of Leonore, who disguised herself as the prison guard Fidelio, to rescue her husband Florestan from his sentence as a political prisoner.

Piano Sonata 14, better known as the "Moonlight Sonata", was written in 1814. The name was given to the sonata five years after the composer's death by German critic Ludwig Rellstab, who likened the first movement to the moon shining over Lake Lucerne.

Answer: Marriage of Figaro

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is one of the major figures of classical music. In his short life he is credited with more than 800 works, which span almost every genre of music.

"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" was written for a chamber music ensemble of two violins, viola, cello, and double bass, although it is often played by an orchestra of string instruments. It was written in 1787, but not published until 1827; many regard it as Mozart's most popular composition.

"The Marriage of Figaro" is a comedic opera written in 1786 by Mozart with a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. It tells how the servants Figaro and Susanna succeed in getting married, foiling the efforts of their employer to seduce Susanna.

Answer: Rodeo

Aaron Copland (1900-1990) is regarded as the dean of American composers. In his youth, he traveled to Paris to study under the influential French teacher Nadia Boulanger. Upon his return to the United States Copland became a noted writer and lecturer. His early works were strongly influenced by Jazz works as he attempted to develop an American style of classical music.

"Appalachian Spring" (1944) was written for a 13 member chamber orchestra. The work was commissioned by Martha Graham, who was the lead dancer in the performance.

"Rodeo" (1942) is a ballet written by Copland and choreographed by Agnes de Mille. The music incorporates many American folk tunes in the Old West setting.

Answer: Tales from the Vienna Woods

Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and a ballet. Although he was discouraged from a music career by his musician father, the younger Strauss surpassed him and became known as the Waltz King.

Strauss wrote the waltz "The Beautiful Blue Danube" in 1866 and first played it in 1867. The German poet Joseph Weyl added words to the waltz, later upgrading them for revisions Strauss made to the music. Alternate lyrics were written by Franz von Gernerth.

"Tales from the Vienna Woods" was a waltz written by Strauss in 1868. It was one of six waltzes he wrote that included a major part for the zither.

Answer: The Barber of Seville

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) is a noted Italian composers of operas. He composed 39 operas along with chamber music, piano pieces, and sacred music. He wrote his first opera at the age of 18 and was a very prolific composer until about 1830 when he became semi-retired at age 38. Although there is no consensus about the reason for his semi-retirement, most experts attribute it to his health.

"William Tell", or at least its overture, is well known to American audiences as the theme song to the early television show "The Lone Ranger". The opera, which debuted in 1829, is based on a play by Friedrich Schiller and the original Swiss legend. It is nearly four hours long and makes difficult demands on the orchestra and cast. When performed now, often a shorter version is used.

"The Barber of Seville" is a comic opera that had its premiere in 1816. The opera revolved the clever and enterprising barber Figaro.

Answer: The Well-Tempered Clavier

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1770) is one of the major figures in classical music. He is known for his orchestral music, instrumental compositions, keyboard and works, and vocal music.

The "Brandenburg Concertos" were six compositions commissioned by the Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt in 1721. They are widely regarded as some of the best orchestral compositions of the Baroque era.

"The Well-Tempered Clavier" consists of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys for keyboard.

Answer: Eugene Onegin

Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) wrote popular concert and theatrical music, several symphonies, and operas. At the start of his career, a distinctive Russian style of music was developing with Balakirev César Cui, Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Borodin. Tchaikovsky was influenced by these composers, known as "The Five", but managed to fuse the nationalism of these composers with the traditional European style.

"Swan Lake", one of his most famous ballets, was fashioned from Russian and German folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse.

"Eugene Onegin" is the story concerns a selfish hero who lives to regret his blasé rejection of a young woman's love and his careless incitement of a fatal duel with his best friend.

Answer: Flight of the Bumblebee

Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 - 1908) was a Russian composer, a member of the group of composers known as "The Five". He employed Russian folk songs and lore along with exotic harmonic, melodic and rhythmic elements in his style.

One of his most well-known works is the "Flight of the Bumblebee", an interlude from from the opera "The Tale of Tsar Saltan". The work is intended to show the chaotic and rapidly-changing flight of the bumblebee.

His symphonic suite "Scheherazade" (1888) tells the story of the heroine of "1001 Nights" and demonstrates Rimsky-Korsakov's dazzling, colorful orchestration and an interest in the East.

Answer: Rigoletto

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) was the dominant figure in late 19th Century Italian opera. His masterpieces include "Aida", "Otello", "Falstaff", "Rigoletto", "Il trovatore" and "La traviata".

"Aida" is set in ancient Egypt, and had its premiere in Cairo. In the story the Egyptians capture and enslave Aida, an Ethiopian princess. An Egyptian military commander, Radamès, struggles to choose between his love for her and his loyalty to the King of Egypt. They remain true to their love, even at the cost of their lives.

"Rigoletto" is the tragic story, which revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto's daughter Gilda. The curse placed on the Duke comes to fruition when Gilda falls in love with the Duke and sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by her father.

Answer: Tosca

Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924) was regarded as the greatest composer of Italian opera after Verdi. His most renowned works are "La bohème" (1896), "Tosca" (1900), "Madama Butterfly" (1904), and "Turandot" (1924). Members of the Puccini family had been musical directors at the Lucca cathedral for 124 years, and Giacomo received an early musical education. By age 21 he had already composed a major work.

His opera "Turandot" follows the Prince Calaf, who falls in love with Princess Turandot. To win her hand in marriage, he had to solve three riddles or face execution. After he passes the test, Turandot refuses to marry him. He offers her a way out: if she is able to guess his name before dawn the next day, he will accept death.

The opera "Tosca" tells the story of the tempestuous opera singer Floria Tosca, as she fights to save her lover Cavaradossi from the sadistic police chief Scarpia. In the shocking climax, Tosca is pursued by the police after murdering Scarpia and flings herself over to her death to avoid capture.

Answer: Black and Tan Fantasy

(Edward) Duke Ellington (1899-1974) was an American pianist, band leader, and composer. Ellington wrote or contributed to over 1000 songs, many with fellow composer Billy Strayhorn; he is regarded as one of the most important figures in jazz music. Some of his most famous songs were "Mood Indigo", "Sophisticated Lady", "Stormy Weather", "In a Sentimental Mood" and "Take the A Train".

"Black and Tan" was a short film starring Ellington in the role of a down and out bandleader. ("Black and Tan" was a term for Prohibition Era speakeasies that catered to racial minorities). The highlight song of the film was "Black and Tan Fantasy", which showcased the individual talents of Ellington's band members.

"Sophisticated Lady" was released in 1933 as an instrumental song, and lyrics were later added by Irving Mills and Mitchell Parish.

Answer: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although he showed early promise as a pianist and composer, he didn't achieve world-wide fame until he was nearly 40 years old with his only opera "Pelleas and Melisande".

He had led a bohemian lifestyle and was a member of the musically-rebellious "Les Apaches", a group that included Stravinsky, Ravel, and de Falla. Thinking that the classical symphony format had become tired and repetitive, he developed harmonies and orchestration that were influenced by Eastern and Russian music.

"La Mer", or The Sea, is three symphonic sketches that made use of important features of Debussy (symbolism, impressionism, and Far Eastern influence). Surprisingly, it was not well-received initially, but soon became one of his most admired and popular compositions.

"Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" is a symphonic work inspired by a poem by Stephane Mallarme. It opens with an unusual flute solo imitating the pan-playing of the faun. Originally Debussy planned for a three-movement work, but instead concentrated on the single piece.

Answer: Enigma Variations

Edward Elgar (1857-1934) is now regarded as a mainstream English composer, although his lower class recusant status presented obstacles to his success. Until his forties he was most noted as an extremely accomplished violinist and composer of choral works played in the English Midlands.

His reputation was established with "The Enigma Variations" at age 42, and he became regarded as the eminent British composer at that time. "The Dream of Gerontius" was his first international success. The five "Pomp and Circumstances Marches" were composed between 1901 and 1930 and are well known pieces in "The Last Night of the Proms" held throughout England.

"The Enigma Variations" was the result of Elgar sitting at a piano and improvising different variations of a central musical theme. His final work consisted of 14 variations of that melody. Later he added additional musical bars and a part for the organ.

"The Pomp and Circumstances Marches" consists of five pieces Elgar composed and sometimes a sixth march constructed posthumously from the composer's notes is added. The most well known is March 1 in D, which includes "Land of Hope and Glory" and is a standard at many graduation ceremonies. March Number 4 in G served as a recessional in the marriage ceremony of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.