Listening to Music the Classical Way Quiz

Answer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a child prodigy, mastering keyboard and violin in his youth. Mozart has over 600 works to his name. The piece "Don Giovanni" is based on the figure of Don Juan, an infamous womanizer and libertine.

Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach

"Toccata and Fugue in D minor" is one of the most recognizable organ pieces. The score has been used in movies such as Disney's "Fantasia", and the 1950 film "Sunset Boulevard". The music is also well received at Halloween parties.

Answer: Frederic Chopin

Frederic Chopin preferred performing in a salon due to its personal nature. In fact, his waltzes were written especially for a salon rather than a ballroom, as was usually the case. However, he did give several public performances, approximately thirty of them. Chopin was also known for his emphasis on the piano and is even believed to have introduced the instrumental ballad.

Answer: Sergei Rachmaninoff

The music was used as the theme song in the 1980 movie "Somewhere in Time" starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. It was also used in the movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray. Murray's character started playing the song on the piano at a party when he saw his love interest walk into the room.

Answer: World War 2

Beethoven's Fifth Symphony was the center of the main campaign of the Allies during World War 2, even being touted as the "Victory Symphony", as V is the Roman numeral for the number five. This is truly a great coincidence to consider.

Answer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky initially didn't get critical praise for his work early initially, with Russians feeling his work didn't reflect Russian classical music. This didn't stop him from working harder in his now legendary work. "The Nutcracker" is based on a short story by E.T.A Hoffmam, called "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King".

Answer: Theme From "2001: A Space Odyssey"

The beginning part of "Dawn", also known as "Sunrise", is world famous because of Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi classic, "2001: A Space Odyssey". Elvis Presley also used it to open his concerts. "Dawn" has been used as background music for scenes in dozens of comedy movies.

Answer: Germany

Although Austrian by birth, Joseph Haydn wrote the music for the German national anthem "Deutschlandlied". However, the lyrics would come over a century later. The music was originally written to celebrate the birthday of Francis II, the emperor who dissolved the Holy Roman Empire. Because of this, it was originally chosen as Austria's national anthem.

In the 20th century, Germans adopted it as their own, although there would be alterations due to World War 2 and the split of East and West Germany.

Answer: Peer Gynt - Morning Mood

Many old classic cartoons use "Peer Gynt - Morning Mood", also known as "Morning", when animals in the forest or barnyard are waking up to start the day. The score was also used in the 1915 film "The Birth of a Nation" as a build up to the Union attack on Atlanta.

Answer: Richard Wagner

"Flight of the Valkyries" is from the musical drama "Der Ring des Nibelungen" by Richard Wagner. Apart from "Apocalypse Now", the song has also been featured in movies such as "Rebel Without a Cause", "The Blues Brothers" and "Jarhead". In the Bugs Bunny cartoon titled "Kill the Wabbit," Elmer Fudd adds his own lyrics to the music.