The Fifth Symphony Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Germany. He composed his Fifth Symphony between 1804 and 1808. It is probably the most performed symphony ever written.

Answer: Dmitri Shostakovitch

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) premiered his 5th Symphony in 1937 in Leningrad. He had previously fallen from Soviet political graces with his opera "Lady MacBeth Of the Mzentsk District" and was suggested to "simplify" his music. This symphony was greeted by the Party with high accolades and went on to receive much acclaim from the public as well.

It is one of Shostakovitch's most popular works. He wrote an opera entitled "The Nose" in 1927. He also wrote, in 1954, "Festive Overture" which still enjoys tremendous popularity to this day.

Answer: Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was regarded as a child prodigy and is today considered one of the more popular composers of the Romantic period. His overture and incidental music for Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream" are programmed and recorded world wide.

Answer: Antonin Dvorak

Dvorak was a Czech composer who lived from 1841 to 1904. Although his famous "New World Symphony" (premiered in December 1893 at Carnegie Hall) was written during his visit to the United States, its thematic material is largely original. It was originally published as No.5 as it was Dvorak's 5th Symphony to be PUBLISHED, even though Dvorak referred to it as his 8th Symphony.

But in the end, the music publisher Simrock renumbered his catalog and it is now known as the 9th (but I still have some old LP recordings that designate it as the Fifth Symphony).

Answer: Sergei Prokofiev

Prokofiev (1891-1953) conducted this work at its premier in Moscow. It was written in 1944 with in the span of one month. World War II was still raging at the time and he intended this work to be as "hymn to free and happy man....". In November of 1945 Sergei Koussevitsky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra gave the American premier. Of course Prokofiev is also known for "Peter and the Wolf", and the "Love for Three Oranges" suite.

Answer: Carl Nielsen

Carl Nielsen was born in Denmark in 1865 and died in 1931. Besides symphonies, he also wrote concertos for violin. flute, and clarinet. He also appears on the Danish 100 kroner note currency. His Fifth Symphony was first performed in January, 1922, in Copenhagen.

Answer: Gustav Mahler

Mahler (1860-1911) was one of the leading orchestral and operatic conductors of his day. Sadly, as in many cases, his works did not achieve great popularity until after his death. His Second Symphony, titled "Resurrection" has also enjoyed great popularity in the years after his passing.

Answer: Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was this Fifth Symphony's composer. And it was premiered on his 50th birthday on December 8, 1915, although Sibeleius has revised it since then. His music played an important role in the formation of a Finnish national identity. Many motifs from this Fifth Symphony have been used in pop songs, including "Popsicles and Icicles" as sung by the Murmaids in 1963.

Answer: Peter Tchaikovsky

Not very critically acclaimed at first, this Fifth Symphony did finally, but slowly, find its way into acceptance as one of Tchaikovsky's most popular works. It even spawned a few pop tunes along the way, and John Denver's "Annie's Song" has been compared to the theme in the 2nd movement. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) also wrote music for the ballets "Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake", and, of course "Sleeping Beauty". And of course he is remembered for his "1812 Overture".

Answer: Charles-Marie Widor

Widor was born in France in 1844 and died in 1937. He composed numerous works for organ as well as for other ensembles, but his "Toccata"from the Fifth Organ Symphony is by far his most popular piece. Saint-Saens did write an "Organ Symphony", but that was his Third Symphony and with full orchestra , of course.