When Classic meets Rock Quiz | Something in Common

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In May 1962, an instrumental song called "Nut Rocker" by an American band called B. Bumble and the Stingers hit number one in the UK charts. It was based on a march tune from a very famous ballet - "The Nutcracker". Who is the composer of this ballet?

Answer: Tchaikovsky

I have started with this song because at the time the BBC had a policy of banning records which "parodied" classical music. But when the committee was considering this song, it was felt that the song would not offend serious music lovers, (how times change!), and so was not banned.

The airplay the record received ensured its success. Emerson, Lake and Palmer used to cover this song in their concerts and also released it on record but more about this group later on.

2. In 1968, a rock high-speed version of "Sabre Dance" by the composer Khachaturian, reached number five in the UK charts. Which band released this instrumental?

Answer: Love Sculpture

Love Sculpture were a Welsh rock band which featured Dave Edmunds on guitar and vocals. The band disbanded in 1970 and Dave Edmunds went on to have a successful solo career in the seventies. Love Sculpture also 'dabbled' with classical music on their second album "Forms and Feelings" when they recorded a version of "Mars" from "The Planets" by Holst, but the song is only available on the US version of the album.

3. In 1969 the music world witnessed the first ever full scale collaboration between a rock band and a symphonic orchestra. The "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" was written by rock keyboardist Jon Lord with lyrics by Ian Gillan. What was the name of the rock band?

Answer: Deep Purple

The album was recorded live with the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra which was conducted by Malcolm Arnold. The concerto is divided in three movements. Incredible as it seems, the music score was lost after the second performance in the US in 1970 and it had to be rewritten for the third performance in 1999!

4. The late sixties explosion of Progressive rock was the background for many bands to dabble in fusing classical music with rock music. One such band released their debut album "Air Conditioning" in 1970. Fronted by Sonja Kristina, the band was one of the first bands to feature a violinist. What was the name of the band?

Answer: Curved Air

On the first album, violinist Darryl Way, had a showcase with "Vivaldi" which is based on tunes from the great classical violinist. The album was a first because there was a limited edition of a picture disc issued. As the technology was still being improved, the sound obtained on the picture disc was not excellent. The album reached the top ten in the UK charts in 1970.

5. Emerson Lake and Palmer represents all that there is to admire and criticize in the progressive music scene. No one can argue about the musical prowess of the musicians but they have been prone to exaggerate in their pomposity. Their 1971 album "Pictures at an Exhibition" is based on the work of which composer?

Answer: Mussorgsky

The album was released in 1971 after the release of their album "Tarkus". The record company wanted to release "Pictures at an Exhibition" on its classical label but the band refused so the project was shelved. After the release of "Tarkus" the company agreed to release the album as a budget live album.

The fact that it was released as a budget live album makes it more difficult to gauge its chart success as at one time budget albums were counted and at others they were not but at one time or other the album was in the top ten both in the UK and the US.

6. In 1974, an album called "A Journey to the Centre of the Earth" was released. It was the recording of a live performance of a rock band led by a famous rock keyboard player, the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir. Who was this keyboardist?

Answer: Rick Wakeman

The album was recorded live as it was too costly to record in the studios. Wakeman wanted to record two live recordings and then choose the best one but the London Symphony Orchestra demanded double pay if two recordings were to be made so a decision had to be taken to record only one show.

The gamble seems to have paid off as the album was well received critically and topped the UK charts. The album also reached number three in the US charts.

7. In 1977 a unique song called "Rockaria!" was released as the second single from the successful album "A New World Record" released the year before. The song was written and produced by Jeff Lynne and it featured the operatic voice of Mary Thomas. What was the name of the band?

Answer: ELO

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) were formed by Roy Wood with the idea that the musicians in the band play rock music but with classical instrumentation. However within a few weeks of the release of "10528 Overture", Wood left the band to form Wizzard. Jeff Lynne regrouped the band and under his leadership led the band to more chart success.
The song itself is a type of duet between an opera singer and a rock band who are trying to teach her to rock and roll. During the song itself the first few notes from Beethoven's fifth symphony are also heard.

8. Sky were an English/Australian band who specialized in playing instrumental music. Its members were classically trained and their albums contained both original recordings and interpretations of classical compositions. Their finest moment came in 1980 with their interpretation of a Bach composition. What was the name of this single?

Answer: Toccata

Sky released their first album in 1979 and "Sky 2" was released a year later. The album peaked at number one in the UK while the single "Toccata" reached number five in the single charts giving them an opportunity to perform on Top of the Pops.

9. Symphonic Metal is a term used to describe metal bands which have elements borrowed from classical music and progressive rock. There are usually led by a female operatic singer. Tarja Turunen (usually referred to as just Tarja) was such a singer who fronted a Finnish band. What was the name of this band?

Answer: Nightwish

Tarja Turunen was one of the founders of Nightwish in 1996 but was dismissed from the band in 2005. The mix of the hard riffs, good melodies and the operatic voice of Tarja quickly garnered support in their home land and they also achieved international success with albums such as "Oceanborn" in 1998, "Wishmaster" in 2000 and "Century Child" in 2002.

10. "The Resistance" is the fifth album of a British band released in 2009. The first single released from this album was called "Uprising" which remained in the number one spot on the Billboard alternative charts for 17 (not consecutive) weeks. What is the name of this band led by Matthew Bellamy?

Answer: Muse

This album contains a number of classical cross overs. The song "United States of Eurasia" contains Chopin's "Nocturne in E Flat major" performed by Bellamy, while the song "I Belong to You" features parts of "Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix" from "Samson and Delilah" composed by Saint-Saens which were arranged by Bellamy and performed by Muse.

The last tracks on the album - the three part "Exogenesis" are presented as a 'symphony'. The album hit the number one spot in a number of countries including the UK.

Source: Author anthonyrock

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ralzzz before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

When Classic meets Rock Trivia Quiz

Ten moments in the history of rock music when the boundaries between classical music and rock music have become blurred.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>