The History Of Music Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pope Gregory I

All chants came from the Jewish and Byzantine religious chants. A Gregorian Chant is a 'single melody without any harmonic support or accompaniment'. The melodies are light and airy. As these chants became popular in Europe, many people took the chants and added or changed things to their particular liking. Pope Gregory I reigned as Pontiff from 590A.D. until his death in 604A.D, what his actual contribution was remains a mystery.

The Gregorian Chants remains one of the most spiritually uplifting music in the western world.

Answer: True

Popular music of the middle ages was known as secular songs, and was not bound by the church's dictation. None of the music that was performed or listened to by Practicing Christians was recorded in church documents until sometime during the tenth century. Around the twelfth or thirteenth century, members of the church started forming groups to sing the Gregorian Chants and Trouveres. One church member, Adam de la Halle, added several different verses to some of these chants and trouveres. Upon adding the verses, he thus changed the meaning and they became known as motets.

Answer: John Dowland

John Dowland was considered to be the greatest lyrical composer of that era. It was his style and creativity that brought music out of the church and gave it to everyone. Other influences of The Renaissance Era include Copernicus, who discovered the actual position of the Solar System, The Sistine Chapel, and William Shakespeare.

Answer: Josquin des Prez

Josquin des Prez was born in Hainault, Burgundy in 1440 A.D. He studied under Johannes Ockegham. Josquin des Prez was Ockeghem's best student and became more widely known and revered than his teacher. Josquin des Pres died in Conde-sur-Escaut on August 27, 1521.

Thank you joecjazz for this piece of information.

"He was heavily influenced by other composers in the Notre Dame school such as Perotin and Leonin who lived 300 years prior to Josquin. Polyphony has been around in the form of "organum" since the 11th Century and was an integral part of church music far before Josquin."

However, it was Josquin des Prez who updated Polyphony so that it could be used for modern background music.

Answer: Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany on May 7, 1833. He studied music the best that he could while supporting himself. Brahms played the piano at bars and brothels. The music that he produced was light and airy, and many enjoyed dancing to his music. Brahms' music leaned more towards the romantic type of instrumental and lyrical music.

He composed such works as: 'German Requiem' and 'The Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68'. Brahms most famous work is his lullabye, known as 'Rock-a-bye Baby'. Johannes Brahms died in Vienna on April 3, 1897.

Answer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg on January 27, 1756. As a child he had a proclivity and possessed a superior intelligence for music. By the time he was four years of age, Amadeus could learn a piece of music in a half of an hour. At the age of six, he began composing and writing music.

By the time Amadeus was eight years of age, he had created his first symphony. Music coursed through Mozart's veins, his father, Leopold Mozart, was a violinist, composer, and Vice-Kapellmeister for the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg.

The Archbishop recognized the young Mozart's talents and quickly had the young man as a regular in his court. Wanting to break away from his little town and learn more about music, Mozart started touring with his mother. Mother and son toured Munich, Paris, and Manneheim. Mozart's mother passed away suddenly in July of 1778, while they were on tour in Paris.

After the death of his mother, and with no prospect of a job, he returned to the Court Of The Archbishop and became the lead organist to the Court.

In 1781, Mozart asked, and received permission, to be removed from the Court Of The Archbishop. Mozart is the first in history to become what is known as a freelance artist. Amadeus met and married a woman by the name of Constanze Weber in 1782, against the wishes of his father. It seemed that Amadeus was quite happy with married life and it was during this period that he turned out one masterpiece after another. During his time in Vienna, he met a composer by the name of Franz Joseph Haydn. Haydn was a great influence in Mozart's music during the years 1782 to 1785. Haydn once told Amadeus' father: 'Before God and as an honest man, your son is the greatest composer I know, either personally or by name'. By 1790, Amadeus was virtually broke, and in a time when he was known as a great composer, he started to display some odd tendencies. Those around him thought that his white powdered wigs odd, and some of his mannerisms were less than courtly. He began to write letters to friends describing the desperate situation of his family. Around this time Mozart was seriously ill. Mozart historians believe that he had some type of kidney disease. During his illness, Mozart created 'The Magic Flute'. With this one masterpiece, Mozart was just starting to put his life, and that of his family, back together when his illness took his life. Mozart succumbed to his illness at the age of thirty-five. He was buried in a common grave and the exact location is not known.

Answer: Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy was born in St. Germain-en-Laye on August 22, 1862. Debussy was a remarkable child and began taking piano lessons at a very young age. By the time he was eleven years of age he was enrolled in the Paris Conservatory. He was at the conservatory for ten years and won many prizes and awards.

His heart, style and free-minded ideas perplexed his teachers and friends alike. In 1884, he won the Grand Prix de Rome. It was during this time that he fell under the influences of the French Impressionist painters of that era.

He believed, that if they could alter pictures and images with color, then he could do the same with music. Debussy applied certain ideas of painting colors into his music. His early works were mostly for voice or piano solos. Claude's most popular piece is titled 'Clair de Lune'.

In his piece titled 'L'Apres-midi d'un faune', he applied a tonal sighing and sensual harmonies. Debussy passed away in Paris, France on March 25, 1918.

Answer: John Cage

John Cage was born in Los Angeles on September 5, 1912. During his life, Cage created music that consisted of aleatory methods. His work also included electronic music that consisted of radio and computers, and also silence. He studied with Arnold Schoenberg and Edgard Varese during his career, and became famous for his work with a 'prepared piano'.

A 'prepared piano' is a concert piano which is used in various ways for the performance of certain pieces by the use of piano strings, bottle caps, paper clips, and other various items. 'Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano' is the perfect example of Cage's techniques. John Cage passed away on August 12, 1992.

His innovative contributions to modern music is known world wide.

Answer: Giacomo Puccini

Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca on December 22, 1858. Puccini is most famous for his realistic operas, which include 'Tosca' and 'La Boheme', with his most famous being 'Madama Butterfly'. In 'La Boheme' the love duet in Act I is considered the prime example of Puccini's artistic abilities. Puccini passed away in Brussels on November 29, 1924.

Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was born and baptized in Bonn on December 17, 1770. When Beethoven was young, he was forced to learn the piano by his physically abusive father. His father's hope was that his son would be as famous as Mozart. The young Beethoven tried his best to be like Mozart, and to be exactly what his father wanted of him, but Beethoven's own musical talent was showing through.

While in concert, Beethoven showed an unusual intensity never before seen or since. Beethoven's first composition was 'Piano Sonata in C minor', which is also known as 'Pathetique'. With this piece, Beethoven's musical voice showed through.

In 1800, Beethoven began losing his hearing, and because of this he seriously thought about taking his own life. Eventually, Beethoven overcame his thoughts of suicide, and continued to compose, even if he could not perform. During this time, Beethoven produced music that was never heard before, such as 'Symphony no. 3 in E-flat major', which is also known as 'Eroica'. 'Eroica' was Beethoven's longest piece and was completed in 1804. 'Symphony no. 5 in C minor', is Beethoven's most famous piece, and according to Beethoven historians, they believe that the piece leans towards madness on the famous composer's part. Shortly before his death, Beethoven composed the opera 'Fidelio', which was his only opera and was his idea of universal freedom.

After making plans for a tenth symphony, Beethoven fell ill. He contracted a chill, which led to a long, suffering illness. Sadly, before his tenth symphony could be completed, Beethoven passed away on March 26, 1827, in Vienna. Over 10,000 people lined the streets to pay tribute to the most famous composer of the modern world. Without these famous individuals there would never have been Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Sonny and Cher, The Beatles, Alan Jackson, The Monkees, Duran Duran, Ricky Martin, Rick Springfield, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, N Sync, Boyz to Men, and of course, the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. When we listen to the music of the artists listed above, we are paying homage to the ones who came before them, the ones who created music. May the history of music live on. All information can be found at www.ipl.org.