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Johann Sebastian Bach Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about J.S. Bach, one of the most famous composers of the Baroque.

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

Author
Schabrakentapir

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
88,682

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
3427

Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (10/10), Guest 68 (6/10), Guest 128 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In which country was J.S. Bach born? Hint

Germany

Italy

France

England

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Question 2 of 10

2. True or false: His family was built up of musicians.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. How many children did J.S. Bach have?

Answer: (A Number between 0 and 20)

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Question 4 of 10

4. What does his (quite short) last name mean, translated into English? Hint

berry

conifer

stream

life

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Question 5 of 10

5. J.S. Bach's compositions: Which of the following designations stands for a composition from J.S. Bach? Hint

OBa 252

BWV 1050

KV 460

BK 21

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following characteristics is Bach and his music NOT famous for? Hint

Brilliant operas

Complex harmony

A perfect counterpoint

Educational compositions

7. Bach wrote many pieces for the organ. A special type of composition
is built up as follows: One part starts with a certain theme,
when the theme is over, the next part will overlap and so on. They are contrapuntally arranged. What is this form called?

Answer: (One word It's NOT a canon)

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Question 8 of 10

8. About Bach's life:
Where did Bach NOT work as a musician: Hint

Heidelberg

K�then

Leipzig

Weimar

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Question 9 of 10

9. When Bach went from one of his working places to another in 1717,
what kind of 'present' did the former employer give him? Hint

He gave him the chapel, where Bach loved to write his compositions.

He put him into prison, because he didn't want to let him go.

He gave him one of his ears as a symbol that he loved Bach's music.

He gave him his daughter Anna Magdalena to marry.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Bach died in 1750.
The name of one of his last compositions was... Hint

Ars Fugae - Die Kunst der Fuge

Symphonie Fantastique

The Unfinished - Die Unvollendete

The Messiah

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Most Recent Scores

Oct 30 2024 : Guest 136: 10/10
Oct 29 2024 : Guest 68: 6/10
Oct 29 2024 : Guest 128: 8/10
Oct 28 2024 : Guest 73: 6/10
Oct 24 2024 : Guest 107: 6/10
Oct 23 2024 : Guest 174: 6/10
Oct 20 2024 : Guest 152: 7/10
Oct 20 2024 : Guest 110: 3/10
Oct 08 2024 : Guest 92: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which country was J.S. Bach born?

Answer: Germany

Bach was born 1685 in Eisenach, which is in Th�ringen, Germany.

2. True or false: His family was built up of musicians.

Answer: True

The Bach family had many musicians in Saxony and Thuringe and
also the sons of Bach -supported and educated by their father-
were composers.

3. How many children did J.S. Bach have?

Answer: 20

Hard to believe, but that is the truth. With his first wife, Maria Barbara Bach, he had seven children, and his second wife, Anna Madgalena Bach, bore 13 children.

4. What does his (quite short) last name mean, translated into English?

Answer: stream

"Not 'Bach' (brook or stream), but 'Sea', should be his name", said Ludwig van Beethoven about Bach, himself being also a great composer.

5. J.S. Bach's compositions: Which of the following designations stands for a composition from J.S. Bach?

Answer: BWV 1050

BWV is an abbreviation for "Bachs WerkeVerzeichnis",which simply means "List of compositions from Bach". No 1050 is the 5th Brandenburg concerto (for cembalo and orchestra). A composition from Mozart can be found with "KV".

6. Which of the following characteristics is Bach and his music NOT famous for?

Answer: Brilliant operas

In fact, Bach did not write any opera. His cantatas especially show very complex harmonic, his fugues show a perfection of counterpoint.
Very good educational compositions are for example some trio sonatas,
the 'Orgelb�chlein' and the 'Clavierb�chlein'.

7. Bach wrote many pieces for the organ. A special type of composition is built up as follows: One part starts with a certain theme, when the theme is over, the next part will overlap and so on. They are contrapuntally arranged. What is this form called?

Answer: Fugue

Bach made these forms famous: "Prelude and Fugue", "Toccata and Fugue" and "Fantasy and Fugue". The first part is a (virtuos)
and free type, the second part is always a fugue.

8. About Bach's life: Where did Bach NOT work as a musician:

Answer: Heidelberg

He was first an organist in Arnstadt/M�hlhausen, then he went to Weimar (as an organist),in K�then he was director of music and since 1723 he was 'Thomaskantor'
in Leipzig.

9. When Bach went from one of his working places to another in 1717, what kind of 'present' did the former employer give him?

Answer: He put him into prison, because he didn't want to let him go.

Bach was in prison from Nov 6th until Dec 2nd; there he wrote his
famous 'Orgelb�chlein', a learning book for the organ.

10. Bach died in 1750. The name of one of his last compositions was...

Answer: Ars Fugae - Die Kunst der Fuge

'The Unfinished' is the last composition of Franz Schubert,
whereas Hector Berlioz wrote his Symphonie Fantastique in his 20s.
'The Messiah' is the most famous oratoria from George Frideric Handel.

Source: Author Schabrakentapir

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