Ninth Symphonies Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dvorak

When Dvorak arrived in New York in 1892, he was charged by the National Conservatory's founder, Jeannette Thurber, with assisting in creating a uniquely 'American' school of composition. Remarkably, in three years, with compositions such as the "New World" Symphony and his 12th string quartet, the "American", he did indeed pave the way for his students and others to create a uniquely 'American' sound.

Answer: Vaughan Williams

His seventh has an evocative title also: "Sinfonia Antarctica". Vaughan Williams is largely thought of as being an adherent to the British 'pastoral' tradition and much of his music supports this pigeon-holing ("A Pastoral Symphony", "The Lark Ascending", "Fantasia on Greensleeves" etc.).

However, some of his symphonies--notably the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth--show a different, more serious, introspective and exploring side of his personality.

Answer: Beethoven

One of the most enduringly popular works ever written, Beethoven's "Choral" Symphony has come to be held across the globe as a symbol of peace and brotherhood. Its, revolutionary for the time, interpolation of choral and vocal parts into what had always been a purely instrumental medium has been imitated by many composers since.

Answer: 15

Shostakovich's fifteen symphonies represent one of the most significant bodies of symphonies written in the 20th century. Shostakovich commented on his ninth, "...[It] differs sharply from my preceding symphonies, the seventh and eighth. If the seventh and eighth bore a tragic-heroic character, then in the ninth a transparent, pellucid and bright mood predominates."

Answer: Widor

Widor, an accomplished organist, wrote ten 'Organ Symphonies'. He also wrote three numbered orchestral symphonies. Though rarely heard, his 'Organ Symphonies' (and organ music in general) form a staple part of the organists' repertoire. He was a respected teacher in Paris and counted Darius Milhaud and Edgard Varese among his pupils.

Answer: Glazunov

Glazunov was troubled by alcoholism for much of his life and he passed away near-destitute in Paris, in 1936. His ninth symphony exists as a mostly complete single movement written in 1910. It seems that he lost interest in completing it, so he didn't really succumb to the 'Curse of the Ninth'.

Interestingly, among his very last works are a saxophone quartet of 1932 and a saxophone concerto (1936) written for the virtuoso, Sigurd Rascher. It has been said that Rachmaninov included an alto saxophone solo in his "Symphonic Dances" (1940) in memory of (and posthumous peace-offering to) his former inebriated friend, who had so disastrously (apparently drunkenly) conducted the premiere of Rachmaninov's first symphony in 1896 which had caused him such anxiety that he tore it up and rejected it.

Answer: Bruckner

Bruckner's "Symphony no.0" was actually his second major symphony. The work was severely criticized and Bruckner retracted it, hence its designation as no.0. It wasn't performed at all during his lifetime. His so-called Symphony no.00 ('Study Symphony in F minor' is its actual title) is an early piece that was later rejected, though not destroyed, by Bruckner.

Answer: Haydn

Joseph "Papa" Haydn is often considered the 'Father of the Symphony'. His late 'London' symphonies (nos. 93 - 104), at least, are considered early masterpieces of the medium. His influence on later composers (eg. Mozart and Beethoven) was far-reaching.

His early symphonies, such as the 9th, however, are very rarely performed and show Haydn still working toward what would later become the standard symphonic model.

Answer: 9

In order to get around the 'Curse of the Ninth', Mahler wrote a large-scale work entitled, "Das Lied von der Erde" ('Song of the Earth'), with the subtitle, "A Symphony for Tenor and Alto (or Baritone) Voices and Orchestra", after completing his eighth.

After "Das Lied...", he then went on to write a ninth numbered symphony. So, he completed ten symphonies, of which nine are numbered in the regular way. His tenth (numbered) symphony, left unfinished at his death, was 'realized' by Deryck Cooke and is now sometimes performed and recorded.

Answer: seventh

Schubert wrote his first six symphonies by 1818 (numbered one - six). Then he began but didn't finish a seventh (it remains largely unorchestrated in outline only). He then wrote two movements of the eighth "Unfinished" and completed the ninth "Great". So, he completed/orchestrated (at least enough for performance) eight symphonies.

A performing version by Brian Newbould of a three movement tenth has also been performed.