Let The Best Man In! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Widely recognized as one of the greatest composers of all time, Beethoven overcame possibly the worst handicap for a composer - deafness. He was, for a long time, so ashamed of his limited and faltering hearing that he did not mention it to his family. He was thus thought to be antisocial and rude at times.

Beethoven made the transition from the Classical to Romantic period in his time. His nine symphonies are standard works in the field and widely performed. His piano pieces, especially the sonatas, are popular even for fairly new players. The "Moonlight", "Pathétique", "Appassionata" and "Waldstein" are among the best known of the 32 sonatas. Beethoven also wrote many other piano pieces that are relatively simple tunes, and hundreds of folk songs from many different nationalities, one of which is a rendition of the Irish "Charlie is My Darlin'". Beethoven wrote for almost every instrument known in his time.

Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dangle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-bangle-horowitz-ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer-spentervasser-kurstlech-himbleeisen-barnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-emo-nurnburger-brotroustle-gespurten-mit-zweimache-luber-hansput-gumberaber-shoenendanker-kolbsfleisch-mittler-raucher von Hautkopft...of Ulm was a creation of the Monty Pythons.*
*If you spot any typos in the name, kindly inform me posthaste!

Answer: Mussorgsky

Modest Mussorgsky (1839-81) was a passionate composer of the Romantic period. His "Pictures at an Exhibition" includes "The Great Gate of Kiev", a dramatic and majestic piece of solemnity. "Night on Bald Mountain" has been featured in many Halloween specials as a frightening background to evil shenanigans.

Mussorgsky began piano lessons at the age of six, was performing at nine, and published his first composition at twelve. He attended music school as well as military school. Unfortunately, he did not complete all the works he began and suffered criticism from some other Russian composers. The last portrait of Modest shows him with the characteristic red nose and dissolute look of an alcoholic, which he was. He died only a few days after that portrait.

Answer: Rimsky-Korsakov

Nikolai Andreivitch Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) was one of the 'Moguchcaya Kuchka' ('The Mighty Handful' or 'The Five') which included the three incorrect choices and Moussorgsky. He wrote, among many others, the "Russian Easter Overture", "Scheherezade" and other operas, "Capriccio Espagnol" and many typically Russian pieces. He was also an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy and traveled with them to several places in the New World.

Nikolai taught music theory and composition at St. Petersburg Conservatory for 35 years, and tutored private students in his home. He edited some of Moussorgsky's unfinished compositions after Modest's death.

Answer: Telemann

Born in Magdeburg, Germany, George Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was a natural musician, although some in his family did not appreciate it. He became friends with George Friedrich Handel and admired his work. Telemann composed his first opera at the age of twelve, and continued composing almost constantly and apparently with as much ease as writing a letter.

Much of his prolific output remains, including 1,043 church cantatas, over 40 pieces for "The Passion" (performed in Hamburg each year).He studied law, languages and science but always returned to his music.

Answer: Debussy

"La Mer" - "The Sea" (1905) was the only opera written by Debussy (1862-1918). He is also well known for his many other pieces such as "Claire de Lune" ("Light of the Moon") and "Prelude to L'Apres-midi d'un Faune" - ("Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun") (1894). Debussy entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of ten and studied there for eleven years. He also studied in Italy, but was discontent with the rigidity of his schooling there and developed his own style.

Debussy was considered by many an impressionist musician, but disdained the label. In 1903, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur.
Debussy has at least three natural sites named for him: an Antarctic peak of about 4,300 feet (east of Mozart Ice Piedmont) called Debussy Heights; a small asteroid discovered in 1988 called "4492 Debussy", and a crater on Mars.

Answer: George Gershwin

Brooklyn-born Jacob Gershwine (1898-1937) changed his name to George Gershwin and wrote extensively for films, Broadway musicals and the stage. He also recorded more than 130 player piano rolls. He and his lyricist brother, Ira, won the Congressional Gold Medal for song writing in 1985, the three incorrect answers being the only other previous recipients. George composed two operas in modern/regional style, "Porgy and Bess" and "Blue Monday".

Gershwin and Maurice Ravel were mutual admirers and each influenced the other's style to some degree. Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" was orchestrated by Ferde Grofe (composer of "The Grand Canyon Suite" and others). Most of Gershwin's music is characterised by vibrant and energetic jazzy themes and added the use of new 'instruments' such as car horns to some pieces to simulate traffic and haste.

Answer: Giacomo Puccini

Puccini (1856-1924) was born in Tuscany, Italy to a family that went back generations as musicians, holding the office of Maestro de Cappella for 124 years. Giacomo missed being the next as he was too young at the time. He studied under uncles and had assistance from many others as he began his work. His first two operas ("La villi" and "Edgar") were not very successful, but he changed librettists and found favor with his third, "Manon Lescaut".

Puccini was poor for a while, like his characters in "La Boheme" (The Bohemian), but over his lifetime he earned millions before his death from complications of throat cancer treatments in Brussels. When the news of his death reached Rome, where "La Boheme" was being performed, the opera was stopped and the orchestra instead played Chopin's "Funeral March".

Puccini was friendly with Arturo Toscanini, who directed several of his works on stage. He was also thought of in his time as the successor to Giuseppi Verdi as the next great Italian composer. Among his very popular works are "Madama Butterfly", "Tosca" and "Turandot" which was unfinished at his death. He used the 'realistic' approach in his works, portraying the real lives of poor to middle class people, and their real problems.

Answer: Chopin

Friedrich Chopin (1810-49) wrote primarily for piano, and brought the influence of his native Poland into his music, especially in the mazurkas, polonaises and scherzos. Chopin tended to write in militaristic style for some of his more difficult pieces, such as "The Revolutionary". His preludes and etudes are relatively easy and good exercizes.

Chopin was born in Warsaw, Poland, to a Polish mother and French father. He lived much of his life in France, and spent ten years with George Sand, a female poet and novelist who was considered scandalous in that she wore men's clothes and smoked in public. Chopin's life was cut short by tuberculosis, which was not uncommon at the time.

Finland's Sibelius died at 92, America's Copland at 90, and France's Saint-Saens at 86.

Answer: Bizet

Georges Bizet (1838-73) composed his "Symphony in C" at the age of 17, but it was not performed much and wasn't popularly received until about 1935. Bizet became better known for his operas, such as "The Pearl Fishers" (1863) and "The Fair Maid of Perth" (1867), but "Carmen" (1875) remains his most well known piece.

Born in France, Georges spent much of his life composing and arranging but achieved little fame. It was only at his early death that "Carmen" was declared a masterpiece (it had previously been considered somewhat vulgar and had few performances in Bizet's lifetime). "Carmen" is one of the most often produced operas, as it appeals to the masses of people who usually 'do not go to the opera'.

Answer: Verdi

Giuseppi Verdi (1813-1901) was born near Busseto, Italy and returned there after studying in Milan for several years. He associated himself with the independence struggle and wrote his "Requiem Mass" (1874) for a fallen patriot, Alessandro Manzoni.

Verdi's two children died very young, and his first wife followed soon after.
Verdi is best remembered for his operas "Rigoletto", "La Traviata", "Il Trovatore" and "Aida".